Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 340 The Ruyi Boy Holds in His Hands, The Old Ox Rests by the Starry Lake Reflecting the Moon.
Now, after Guanyin Bodhisattva made a pact with Sun Wukong, she went to the East to find the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada.

As the Buddha said, finding a person to obtain the scriptures is easy, but obtaining the support of the Tang Emperor is extremely difficult.

Therefore, the Bodhisattva used a magic trick to bring the dying Tang King back to life, adding a lifespan as compensation. As a result, the Tang King received the help of the human dynasty and embarked on the great journey to obtain the scriptures.

After a flurry of activity, Guanyin Bodhisattva roughly calculated that the number of demons encountered along the way was insufficient to reach the full eighty-one tribulations.

"Go and find the Great Celestial Venerable and ask for a talisman to pave the way for the great undertaking of obtaining the scriptures."

One of the Five Elders of the Five Directions of the Bodhisattva of the Sea, he holds a first-class position in the Heavenly Court's Precious Register, just like the World Honored One and the Buddha. Moreover, he possesses the Primordial Dao Fruit, making him even more powerful than the Buddha, so naturally he has some prestige.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Emperor also intended to support Mount Ling, and thus granted Guanyin Bodhisattva the talisman that was answered by Heaven and supported by Earth.

Immediately, the Bodhisattva went up to the Great Crimson Heaven and asked Laozi to send down his attendant to help him.

"We must visit the secluded Taiyi Mountain and pay our respects."

The Bodhisattva of the Sea knew perfectly well that if the journey to the West was to proceed smoothly, not only should they pay homage to Laozi, but they should also make a trip to the Taiyi Cave.

……

Meanwhile, in the Taiyi Mountains, after returning to the mountain, Zhou Cheng began to cultivate a life of tranquility.

It wasn't about gaining any profound insights, since there was no principle that Zhou Cheng couldn't surpass. He simply wrote scriptures, discussed his state of mind, and immersed himself in nature every day to cultivate a peaceful and tranquil mind.

"Zheng Cong~ Ling—"

The sound of the guqin echoed, and the Taiwei Hua brushed across the strings, expressing emotions through sound and transforming the Dao into music, thus creating a musical scale with eight tones and nineteen chapters.

Nearby, Zhou Cheng and Yu Yun were playing chess, their fingers weaving black and white, with endless Daoist principles flowing between them.

Suddenly, Zhou Cheng, who had just placed his piece, looked up at the sky.

Yu Yun, who was opposite, also had a feeling. She tried to calculate with her fingers, but she couldn't figure it out.

"No wonder this Bodhisattva of the sea is here." Yu Yun couldn't figure out the cause and effect between the two being Hunyuan Great Powers, so she just looked at Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng smiled and said, "I simply hope that you and I can also support this journey to obtain the scriptures."

Taiwei Hua, who was playing the zither, paused and couldn't help but say, "And even that monkey is acting as a pilgrim for them, isn't that considered support?"

Zhou Cheng laughed and said, "How dare they be careless? Besides, I let Yi Fei go down the mountain and use his Ruyi to block the way to the West. What can they do about it?"

"I'd like to cause them some trouble."

Yu Yun parted her red lips slightly, as if she had remembered something, and said, "My husband, that old ox, is that the Bull Demon King?"

“Not bad.” Zhou Cheng nodded.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun spread her long, slender fingers, and a ray of Primordial Light appeared.

However, that original cosmic lake, after Yu Yun attained the Primordial Dao Fruit, has now been refined into a 'black star'.

In physics terms, it's a miniature black hole capable of suppressing all mysteries.

“This extraordinary treasure will be lent to the ox, so that he may obtain a Hunyuan Fruit position and have a fight with the monkey.”

Zhou Cheng smiled and said, "You really care."

Just as Zhou Chenghe, Yu Yun, and Taiwei Hua were exchanging words, they saw the Bodhisattva of the Sea descend from the auspicious clouds and land outside the gate of Taiyi Mountain, climbing the mountain on foot as a sign of respect.

"Boom..."

As the ancient cave gate opened, a majestic deity emerged from it, looked at the Bodhisattva, made a hand gesture, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Bodhisattva. The Patriarch invites you."

Now, this divine general, with double pupils in his eyes, a flawless foundation in Dao, and perfected elixir nature, was an immortal celestial being, none other than the former tyrant of the mortal realm.

"It is because Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, is here in person. My apologies for my rudeness," Guanyin Bodhisattva said, exchanging pleasantries.

The divine general remained unfazed and said, "The empires of the mortal world are but fleeting clouds of the past. Now, the overlords are gone, and only Yi Chu remains."

"Please come with me, Bodhisattva, and do not keep the Patriarch waiting."

"In that case, I will trouble Master Yi Chu."

The Bodhisattva straightened his clothes and then followed Yi Chu into the mountain gate. They walked up the stone steps to the pavilion and saw the figures of Zhou Cheng and the other two.

"This humble monk pays homage to the True Nature of the Beginning and has met with the two Bodhisattvas."

The Bodhisattva bowed, and Zhou Cheng nodded in acceptance, while Yu Yun and Taiwei Hua rose to return the bow.

"I wonder what important matter brings the Bodhisattva to my mountain gate? Could it be that the monkey is disobedient?"

"It is nothing, it is nothing. It is because the journey to obtain the scriptures has already begun, but it is said that the eighty-one tribulations cannot be completed. Therefore, we have sought out the True Immortal of the Beginning to borrow two disciples of the True Immortal to help the Great Sage Sun complete this merit."

Zhou Cheng laughed and said, "This is a trivial matter. I will call that ox back to the mountain and make it a disaster for it."

Taiwei Hua suddenly spoke up, saying, "Husband, wasn't it said that Chuxiu and that Golden Cicada Master had some karmic connection?"

"In that case, let Chuxiu also go down the mountain to help that monk."

In this way, a dilemma is formed.

The Bodhisattva repeatedly expressed his gratitude, and then looked at Yu Yun and said, "Now that the group of people on the pilgrimage have all gathered, according to what the World-Honored One said, we can test their Zen minds."

"Therefore, I am willing to become a daughter of the Empress Dowager, disguise myself as a member of a wealthy family, and propose marriage. I wonder what the Empress Dowager thinks?"

Previously, Yu Yun was known in the Heavenly Treasure Script as the Two Elements Yin Yang Yuan Jun, hence the name Yuan Mu Niang Niang.

Yu Yun smiled and asked, "Is the Bodhisattva serious?"

"Thank you for your trouble, thank you for your trouble..." the Bodhisattva said, clasping his hands together.

Yu Yun chuckled: "In that case, I will go and make the trip."

Zhou Cheng sighed: "Your mind is not at peace."

Yu Yun was silent for a moment: "A great calamity is coming, and you must go to face it. Moreover, the monkey is also the key to the future. How can I be at ease?"

Her cool voice held a burning passion that left Zhou Cheng speechless.

The Bodhisattva at sea lowered his head and remained silent, only observing his own mind and writing down the words, "A great calamity is coming; go back and ask the World-Honored One."

"Fine, go if you want, it's good to make a good connection."

Zhou Cheng stood up, feigned drowsiness, and took a step out, disappearing into the pavilion.

Seeing this, the Bodhisattva of Luojia Mountain did not linger, but bowed and took his leave of Yu Yun and Taiwei Hua.

After the Bodhisattva left, Taiwei Hua sighed and said, "My husband is probably thinking about our situation after this failed attempt at transcendence."

"The right way is to consider defeat before victory."

After Yu Yun finished speaking, she made a hand gesture and summoned Chu Xiu telepathically.

A moment later, Chu Xiu ascended to the mountain pavilion and bowed to Yu Yun and Taiwei Hua, saying, "Greetings, my two senior uncles."

"Chuxiu, the pilgrims have already set off. You should go and face the next challenge."

Chu Xiu hesitated, then looked at Yu Yun and said, "Uncle-Master, I... I am definitely no match for Senior Brother Wukong. What should I do?"

Yu Yun laughed and said, "If you can't beat them, just ask for help. Go find your senior brother Yi Fei and borrow his treasure." Although Chu Xiu hadn't spent much time with her fellow disciples over the years, she knew that the treasure was extraordinary and had the power to suppress all the saints in the Three Realms. She immediately became excited.

"In that case, Senior Brother Wukong will certainly not be able to overcome this tribulation. I wonder what kind of calamity he will face? Will he transform into a demon to block his path?"

Yu Yun pondered for a moment and said, "Your senior brother Wukong cultivates life but not nature. You should go and face the challenge that tempers your nature."

Chu Xiu's heart stirred slightly, and a flash of inspiration struck her. She immediately understood and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle-Master. This disciple will take his leave now."

After Chu Xiu left, Yu Yun went to find the old ox again.

The old ox was quite at ease in the mountains and forests, befriending and visiting the many immortals who had cultivated in this grotto, enjoying himself every day.

Suddenly, the sun, moon, and stars shone and transformed into the Dharma form of Yu Yun, causing the old ox and all the spirits in the mountain to hurriedly bow down.

"Greetings, Mother Goddess!"

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

The spirits in the mountains who were able to cultivate magical powers had all listened to the teachings in the Dharma Hall. They were all enlightened and regarded Zhou Cheng and the others as their parents who had given them a second life, calling them "Grandpa" and "Grandma".

“Ox, the patriarch once said that he would bestow upon you a great fortune. Today I have come to bestow it upon you, granting you the extraordinary phenomenon called ‘Star Lake Reflecting the Moon,’ which will allow you to borrow the power of Hunyuan. Now go back to the mountain and undergo a trial with that monkey.”

The old ox quickly kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty."

Immediately, Yu Yun waved her hand, and stars fell from her palm, transforming into a strange phenomenon of a starry lake reflecting the moon. Then, they transformed into endless Daoist clouds, surging into the old ox's body.

Suddenly, the old ox felt that the world before him had changed dramatically, and everything was different from before. Moreover, he had the ability to read the entire universe.

Having completed all this, the Dharma form that Yu Yun had transformed into finally dissipated.

Old Niu dared not slack off and continued to kowtow repeatedly towards the initial peak in the cave, only getting up after completing nine kneelings and twenty-seven bows.

"Congratulations, Brother Niu! Congratulations, Brother Niu!"

A beautiful woman offered her congratulations repeatedly, her voice clear and melodious, like a lark.

In reality, this is a lark that cultivated its magical powers and attained human form.

"Brother Niu, Brother Niu, can you show us what kind of skills you have?"

"That's right, that's right. What does that strange phenomenon of the moon reflected in the star lake look like? My sisters and the others are very curious about it."

Two female demons whispered sweetly beside the old ox, each clinging to one of its burly arms.

As for why they are all female demons, you'll have to ask Old Ox.

Before Old Niu could respond, the Fairy of the Hundred Spirits cursed at the two female demons, "You lowly creatures, you're just trying to instigate Brother Niu to make a mistake."

"That monkey was banished by the patriarch for showing off back then, you all know that, don't you?"

Old Niu, who had originally wanted to show off his prowess, was stunned upon hearing this, and then a look of lingering fear appeared on his face: "Thank you, Sister Bailing, otherwise I, Old Niu, would have been in big trouble."

After saying this, the old ox pushed aside the two female demons and said solemnly, "Since it is the Mother Goddess who ordered me to make trouble for that monkey, I cannot be negligent. I will go now and catch up with Sister Bailing another day."

Now, Old Ox rode the clouds down from Taiyi Heaven. He was halfway there when he suddenly patted his head.

“Foolish, foolish indeed.”

Old Niu coughed twice and then said, "Let me tell you about the ten thousand kinds of supernatural powers, and grant me the power to create three thousand worlds in a single thought!"

Star Lake Reflects the Moon, transforming into the Primordial State, and using the "Words Become Law" technique, he directly appeared inside the Rakshasa Cave on Emerald Cloud Mountain, startling the Rakshasa woman who was bathing, who almost drew her sword to strike.

"It's you, my nemesis! You actually know how to come back..."

When the Rakshasa woman saw the newcomer, she threw her sword to the ground, and a fragrant breeze wafted into the old ox's arms.

……

Now, the golden cicada, reborn as a monk in the Tang Dynasty, encountered trouble at Shuangcha Ridge before even leaving the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Fortunately, he was protected by a cassock, which saved his life. For a moment, he had the thought of retreating.

Fortunately, he encountered Venus appearing in the sky to guide him, which strengthened his resolve to continue westward.

Perhaps it was fate, but Tang Sanzang had not traveled more than a few miles when he encountered a mountain guardian, who drove away tigers and wolves with astonishing power, and was called "Liu Boqin".

After a conversation, Liu Boqin learned that Tang Sanzang was on the orders of the Tang Emperor to go to Mount Ling. He took the initiative to protect Tang Sanzang, preventing him from being harmed by jackals and leopards, and escorted him across Shuangcha Ridge until he reached the foot of Wuxing Mountain.

"Elder, ahead lies the Two Realms Mountain, the boundary between the Tang Dynasty and the Tatar tribe, hence its name. It is said that it was previously called Five Finger Mountain, a divine mountain that descended from the sky, with a thousand-year-old ape imprisoned beneath it!"

Liu Boqin pointed to the body and introduced it to Tang Sanzang, who was standing to the side.

Tang Sanzang was immediately taken aback and couldn't help but say, "A divine mountain descended from the sky, and a thousand-year-old ape is trapped beneath it? How could such a strange tale be true?"

Liu Boqin did not argue, but said, "This is what the elders said. Whether it is a divine mountain that fell from the sky, I do not know, but that old ape did have it. Decades ago, when I was a child, I went into the mountains with my grandfather and saw it from afar."

"According to what my grandfather said, the old ape was like this when my grandfather was a child, and it is still like this now. It has been suppressed under the mountain for at least a hundred years."

Just as Tang Sanzang was filled with surprise and doubt, the earth shook violently, as if an earth dragon were turning over.

Then came another explosion, like the awakening of insects, shaking the world.

"Master, Master, I, Old Sun, am at the foot of the mountain, at the foot of the mountain!"

The sound was like the collapse of heaven and earth, shaking countless jackals, tigers, leopards, snakes, insects, rats and ants in the mountains, causing them to bleed from their noses and die from ruptured internal organs.

Even Liu Boqin and Tang Seng, who were still dozens of miles away from the Two Realms Mountain, were now experiencing deafening ringing in their ears and blacking out in their vision.

"What kind of noise is this? How can someone's voice sound like an earth dragon turning over? How can we get across this mountain?"

Tang Sanzang panicked for a moment and could only cry incessantly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Boqin could only offer words of comfort, saying, "It must be that thousand-year-old ape from the foot of the mountain. Who else could possess such supernatural powers?"

“Elder, do not be afraid. I have never heard of that old ape harming anyone in all these years. I will escort you into the mountain to see him and ask him why he is showing off his supernatural powers.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang wiped away his tears and quickly said, "In that case, I beg you, brave warrior, I beg you!"

The mountain road, stretching for dozens of miles, was rugged and difficult to traverse. Fortunately, Tang Sanzang had a fine horse, and Liu Boqin was no ordinary man. Thus, they were able to reach the foot of the mountain before nightfall.

Look down at the stone box at the foot of the mountain, and you'll find a divine monkey suppressed there.

When Sun Wukong saw Tang Sanzang, he quickly said, "Master, Master, I have received guidance from Guanyin Bodhisattva and am waiting for you here. Quickly remove the Buddha's seal and let me out."

Upon hearing about Guanyin Bodhisattva and Buddha Tathagata, Tang Sanzang's expression immediately turned serious, and he clasped his hands together, saying, "Monkey, how do I know what you're saying is true?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately shouted, "Five Directions Protectors, Mountain Gods and Earth Gods, where have you all gone? Show yourselves at once and explain to your master!"

Sun Wukong couldn't use any magic power to restrain the spirit, so he could only curse like this.

As for that ability to make a sound that could be heard for miles, it wasn't some kind of magical power; it was simply a loud voice.

Immediately, the Five Directions Protectors appeared, and the Mountain God and Earth God emerged, bowing to Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang, and recounting the whole story.

Immediately, Tang Sanzang understood something, and with great effort, he climbed up the mountain and removed the golden seal from the Buddha.

This is truly a case of: Five hundred years ago, the Great Sage Sun Wukong could not escape the Heavenly Net today!

(End of this chapter)