Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 440 The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd is Defeated, and the Yangzhou Cauldron is Taken
After Sun Wukong and the others finished their discussion and knew what to do, they set off and arrived at the foot of Haiguan Mountain.

The group rode the clouds and arrived at the top of the mountain. Sun Wukong then stepped out of the formation and said, "Everyone, I'll trouble you to stay here and guard the area. I'm going to go over there and challenge the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd. When he comes out, if you see me leading him out, then swarm him."

Zhenjian and the others all responded.

Pigsy laughed and said, "Brother, you were so powerful back then, when did you ever fear such evil spirits? Why are you repeatedly giving me these instructions now? You don't seem like a hero like yourself."

Sun Wukong said, "You fool, I have no staff to use right now, so I should be careful. If I still had my weapon, I would have nothing to fear."

Pigsy said, "Why don't I lend the Nine-Toothed Rake to my eldest brother? Then he won't have to be afraid anymore."

Say it.

Pigsy handed the Nine-Toothed Rake to Monkey.

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "No need for that. I'm not used to your rake, and I don't have a staff. I'll just take back the Golden Cudgel."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy had no choice but to give up.

Zuo Liang stepped forward, took the Yu Ding from his waist, and said, "Uncle-Master, this Yu Ding can be used for your self-defense. That Axe-Wielding Great Sage probably has the Yang Ding on his person. If you are not careful, you may be harmed. This Yu Ding can help you protect yourself."

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment, then took the Yu Ding and said, "In that case, I will take the Yu Ding and go meet him."

He said no more, descended from the clouds, and arrived at the mountain of the customs. With his fiery eyes, he saw a cave on the mountaintop, filled with murderous aura. He knew that the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was most likely in that cave.

Sun Wukong walked up to the cave and shouted, "You wicked demon, come out and surrender!"

Seeing no movement, he mustered all his strength and stomped his foot on the ground, causing the earth to shake violently.

……

Inside the cave, an axe and a staff were placed in front of the Great Sage of Axe and Halberd, and in the very center stood a tripod.

The Great Sage of Axe and Halberd inhaled and exhaled qi, using the power of the cauldron to try to heal some of his injuries.

Just as his mind was calming down and his injuries were gradually healing, the earth suddenly shook, causing his cave to tremble. He immediately stopped eating and turned his ear to the north, where he heard someone shouting.

Upon listening carefully, the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd immediately recognized that this was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Such commotion must mean that he had come seeking revenge. He was not afraid at all. He put away the cauldron, swung his axe, picked up his golden cudgel, and walked outside.

Before long, he stepped out of the mansion and saw Sun Wukong challenging him outside.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd stepped forward and said, "You monkey, when you fought with me back then, you even lost your treasure, which I obtained and you fled for your life in a sorry state. How dare you come to fight me now?"

Sun Wukong said, "Your grandfather was not full at that time, and seeing that you had a good treasure, he spared your life temporarily. Now that your grandfather is full, he will come to take your life."

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd said, "Monkey, don't boast and bite off more than you can chew. I know you have some skills, but you are no match for my treasures, let alone now, since you don't even have a weapon. How can you possibly defeat me?"

Sun Wukong said, "Your maternal grandfather has the ability to take your life! But you'd better watch out."

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd did not believe it and said, "Let me see what skills you have that you dare to utter such arrogant words!"

Say it.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd held an axe in his left hand and a golden cudgel in his right, poised to pounce on Sun Wukong.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong showed no fear whatsoever. He leaped into his arms, slapped him across the face, and then turned and left.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was stunned for a long time, then flew into a rage and said, "You plague-ridden monkey, how dare you insult me! Die before me!"

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd swung his axe and chased after Sun Wukong.

The two walked one after the other towards the outside of the mountain pass. The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd quickly caught up with Sun Wukong, which greatly surprised Sun Wukong. He never expected that the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd would have such abilities.

Sun Wukong instructed him to catch up, and the two fought fiercely on the mountain path. Sun Wukong moved swiftly and used all his skills to fight him.

The demon's axe and club were heavy, while the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's long fist was loose. Here, the demon's sharp axe cleaved, its force heavy and most dangerous. There, the Great Sage's deer-like footwork covered the head, scattered flowers, and pierced the waist. The two fought for several rounds, and it was difficult to determine who was truly stronger.

This battle left those who witnessed it amidst the clouds speechless, all marveling at Sun Wukong's martial arts skills.

Zhenjian put his hands together and said, "Junior Brother Wukong's martial arts skills are quite remarkable. I thought that without the Golden Cudgel, Junior Brother Wukong would be unable to fight against this monster, and I was willing to help him. I never expected that he would have such skills."

Pigsy was also surprised and said, "Back when Brother Monkey went to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures, he also showed off his martial arts skills along the way, but they were not as good as they are now."

Zuo Liang said, “Everyone, please watch carefully. Our master is leading him out. Once he is far from the cave and on the plain outside the mountain, we will all rush in and not give him a chance to escape.”

The crowd responded, and the Four Dragon Kings echoed from behind, saying they would join forces.

He waited among the clouds to watch the battle.

Sun Wukong fought the Great Sage with his fists and feet, but after ten rounds, he was ultimately no match for him, for fists and feet are no match for weapons.

Sun Wukong, however, did not linger in battle. Seeing that he was no match for the Great Sage with his axe and halberd, he turned and flew away.

How could the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd tolerate Sun Wukong? He immediately gave chase.

After a fierce battle in the mountains and forests, the two finally emerged from the Haiguan Mountain and arrived at a plain outside the mountains.

Upon arriving at this point, Sun Wukong stopped trying to escape, turned around, and sneered, "You wicked demon, you will not surrender now!"

The Great Sage with Axe said, "You monkey have some martial arts skills, but I don't think so. You think you can subdue me with such abilities? Now that I have my axe and cudgel in hand, you will die here."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "As the saying goes, 'fortune turns like a wheel.' You were chasing after me back then, but now it's my turn."

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd said, "I've observed that you possess some skill."

Sun Wukong said, "I don't have many skills, but I do have one: I have many fellow disciples and countless gods and Buddhas to help me! Second senior brother, you fool, your nephew, Chenxiang, and the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, hurry up and help me!"

As soon as he finished speaking,
Suddenly, several people descended from the clouds and instantly surrounded the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd. Sun Wukong looked up and saw that Chenxiang, Zhu Bajie, Zuo Liang, and the Four Dragon Kings of the Seas had surrounded the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd, leaving no way for him to escape.

Sun Wukong said, "As I said before, now it's my turn. Great Sage of Axe and Halberd, will you surrender or not?"

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd circled around without saying a word, raising his axe and cudgel as if to charge outwards, seemingly not taking anyone around him seriously.

Upon seeing this, everyone immediately displayed their unique skills, eager to rush forward and engage in combat.
The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd knew that if he wanted to fight back, he would have to attack one side. So he looked around and saw that Zhen Jian was plain and unremarkable and had no weapon in his hand, so he went to kill him.

Seeing the Great Sage of Axe and Halberd charging menacingly, Zhen Jian showed no panic. Instead, he smiled slightly, pushed his hands forward, and boundless Buddhist light appeared, blocking the Great Sage of Axe and Halberd and making it difficult for him to get close.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was startled, not expecting to see such skill. He was about to take the cauldron when Pigsy suddenly rushed over, swinging his nine-toothed rake wildly, striking and raking wildly. The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was unable to defend himself, and his golden cudgel slipped from his hand.

Taking advantage of the situation, Sun Wukong seized the opportunity, took the golden cudgel, and together with Zhu Bajie, they attacked the Great Sage with the axe and halberd from the left and right.

The three fought fiercely for several rounds, and the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was forced into a disadvantageous position, facing imminent danger.

Seeing that they were no match for each other, the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd took out the Yangding Cauldron and made a gesture as if he would use the power of an entire province to defeat Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.

Before he could make a move, a bolt of lightning struck the Great Sage Axe-wielding head, while boundless Buddhist light swept across his chest, forcing him to retreat.

This is thanks to Zuo Liang and Zhen Jian.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd was panting heavily from the continuous attacks and was starting to feel the strain. Seeing Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie attacking again, he turned to flee.

Suddenly, he saw Chenxiang swinging his axe. Seeing the axe's momentum, he was overjoyed and wanted to kill him and escape. But when he saw the mountain-splitting axe in Chenxiang's hand, he was terrified.

Isn't this his very origin?

This monkey knew his weakness, and the Great Sage with his axe and halberd was so astute that he lost his composure for a moment.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd narrowly dodged Chenxiang's axe, looked at Sun Wukong, and asked in surprise, "You monkey, what brings you here! You are definitely not here to stand up for the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas."

Sun Wukong swung his golden cudgel and laughed, "You only realize this now, but it's too late! I won't lie to you, we have come here today on the orders of the Guangxin Zhenren of the Xieyue Sanxing Cave on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain in Xiniu Hezhou to subdue you."

Zuo Liang stepped out from behind, holding the Tianpeng Ruler, and said, "Zheng Yuan, the second disciple of the Guangxin Zhenren of the Xieyue Sanxing Cave, is here."

Zhenjian stood among the clouds, his hands clasped together, and smiled, saying, "Junior Brother Zhenjian of the Xieyue Sanxing Cave, Guangxin Zhenren, is here."

Both Zhu Bajie and Chenxiang were known by their names and were related to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd had heard of the name "Master Guangxin" before, and was greatly alarmed. He said, "When did I offend this Master Guangxin, that you all have come to fight me!"

Sun Wukong said, “The cauldron in your hand is a treasure of a true immortal. You rely on the fact that you were transformed from the gap in the mountain-splitting axe and have the residual energy of King Yu in your body, so the divine cauldron did not reject you. You took it for your use and even caused trouble in the area. Now we are here to subdue you.”

Chenxiang then swung his mountain-splitting axe, raising it high and saying, "Great Sage Axe and Halberd! Now return to your place at once!"

Upon hearing his words, the Great Sage of Axe and Halberd already knew many things, and knew that his origin had been revealed to others. He gritted his teeth and said, "Now I know my mistakes, and I wish to return the Divine Cauldron to the True Man. You can forgive my mistakes, and I will no longer try to steal the Divine Cauldron."

Sun Wukong cursed, "You vile demon, you have killed countless cultivators and countless sailors. Even if you now say you'll be spared, who will forgive those you have harmed? I will never forgive you today!"

Upon hearing this, the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd said no more, raised the cauldron and struck at Sun Wukong, having already given up on any thought of peace talks.

Sun Wukong saw this, took out the Yu Ding, recited the incantation, and the Yu Ding revealed its true form of being eighteen feet tall, heading towards the Yang Ding.

When the two tripods collided, it was like two towering mountains colliding. In the next moment, the Yang tripod was suppressed by the Yu tripod. In terms of weight and strength, how could the Yang tripod compare with the Yu tripod?

Seeing that the two cauldrons had determined a winner, Sun Wukong immediately swung his cudgel at the Great Sage with the axe.

When Pigsy and the others saw Sun Wukong's actions, they rushed to follow him and started fighting.

The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd had no time to think and immediately engaged in battle with them.

The group fought at the foot of the mountain. The Great Sage with Axe and Halberd, relying on his transformation into Geng metal, fought relentlessly, disregarding the attacks of Sun Wukong and the others, exchanging injuries for injuries, trying to force the group to retreat and escape into the mountains.

Chenxiang, who was engaged in combat on the side, saw the Great Sage of Axe and Yue in such a state and became determined not to let him escape. He swung his axe to exchange injury for injury, and chopped straight at the Great Sage of Axe and Yue behind him.

Unexpectedly, when Chenxiang cleaved the axe, it actually cut a gash in the body of the Great Sage of the Axe, causing him immense pain and rendering him completely powerless to retaliate against Chenxiang.

When Sun Wukong saw this place, his eyes lit up. This Great Sage with the Axe and Halberd was originally transformed from a gap in the Mountain-Splitting Axe. Now he was afraid of the Mountain-Splitting Axe and used his original source to overcome his original source.

Sun Wukong then said, "Chenxiang, lend me your mountain-splitting axe."

Upon hearing this, Chenxiang readily complied and swung his axe.

Sun Wukong took the axe and swung it at the Great Sage with the axe.

Knowing the power of his axe, the Great Sage of Axe and Halberd dared not take it head-on and dodged it.

How could Sun Wukong let him escape? He swung his axe and slashed, pressing his advantage.

In a short while, the Great Sage with the Axe and Halberd was unable to dodge and was beheaded by Sun Wukong with a single axe blow, dying on the spot.

The Great Sage of Axe and Halberd died, falling to the ground and turning into a small piece of gold and iron, buried in the dust.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong said, "Chenxiang, this is what's missing from your mountain-splitting axe. Keep it safe and don't lose it again."

Say it.

He returned the axe to Chenxiang.

Chenxiang accepted the order and took the fragments from the ground.

Sun Wukong then spoke to the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, saying that once the matter was settled, the Great Sage with Axe and Halberd had been ordered to kill them.

The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas witnessed this firsthand and were overjoyed. They then invited Sun Wukong and the others to the Dragon Palace.

Sun Wukong and the others politely declined, saying they needed to report to the True Man.

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas dared not mention going to the Dragon Palace again. After bidding farewell to Sun Wukong, they departed.

Seeing the Four Dragon Kings leave, Sun Wukong bowed to Zhenjian again and said, "Second Brother, it's fortunate that you came, otherwise I really would not have been able to subdue this demon."

Zhenjian shook his head and said, "It was my eldest brother's order. He knew you were in trouble, so he sent Bajie to escort Chenxiang to help you. I guessed that my eldest brother had already figured out that if Chenxiang came with the mountain-splitting axe, the Great Sage with the axe would be no match for him. But I didn't expect that Bajie and Chenxiang would encounter trouble on the way, so I had to come instead."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy lowered his head, unsure of what to say.

Chenxiang felt somewhat ashamed and secretly resented his lack of ability. At that time, when Zhu Bajie was fighting with the monster, he was of no help whatsoever and almost caused Zhu Bajie's death.

Sun Wukong said, “Eldest brother, you can see all the Three Realms and know the difficulties I face. Now that we have killed this demon and obtained the Yangzhou Cauldron, it is time for us to return home and give the Jingzhou Cauldron and the Yangzhou Cauldron to eldest brother.”

Zuo Liang joked from the side, saying, "Didn't Uncle-Master say that he would find the remaining cauldron before returning? Now that you've just obtained the Yang Cauldron, why are you leaving already?"

Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "You're right, that kind of divine cauldron is hard to obtain. Besides, we already have two cauldrons, and it's already difficult to take them home. If there were another divine cauldron, I don't know how we would get it back. This is enough."

(End of this chapter)