Honghuang: Eat a Hunyuan Daluo

"Wukong, shouldn't there be other people in our pilgrimage team?" Jin Chanzi asked as he roasted a rabbit in the dilapidated temple late at night.

"Yes, there's also a pig, a dragon, and the guy who ate you nine times."

"You ate me nine times?" Jin Chanzi was a little confused. He only recovered his memories from his time as Jin Chanzi, not his memories from his nine reincarnations.

Sun Wukong frowned upon seeing this and asked, "You call yourself Jin Chanzi, don't you know about reincarnation?"

"I know, but this humble monk has no memory of reincarnation."

Sun Wukong sighed and told Jin Chanzi about how he had been eaten by Sha Wujing nine times.

"So that's it! No wonder I was so resistant to the journey to the West! There's another reason behind it! My master probably deliberately didn't restore my memories from my reincarnations. That old bald monk misled me!"

A hint of helplessness flashed in Duobao's eyes in the Great Thunder Temple. He was scolded by his own disciple, but he couldn't hit him or scold him back. It was quite painful.

Sun Wukong smiled; this Jin Chanzi was much more likable than the Tang Sanzang he had seen from the system.

"Monkey, the rabbit's roasted, want some?"

"No, this rabbit is a mortal creature with too many impurities."

"Alright, do you have any alcohol?"

Sun Wukong raised his hand and pointed, and a pot of monkey wine brewed by Huaguo Mountain appeared in front of Jin Chanzi.

Jin Chanzi happily picked up the wine pot, taking a bite of meat and a sip of wine, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The next day, Sun Wukong brought Jin Chanzi to a canyon.

"Monkey, where is this place?"

"Eagle's Sorrow Gorge".

"Come here and do it." Before Jin Chanzi could finish speaking, the little white dragon flew out from Eagle Sorrow Gorge, startling Jin Chanzi.

The White Dragon arrived at Eagle's Sorrow Gorge about two years ago. In this life, the Jing River Dragon King was safe and sound. The White Dragon came to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge on the instructions of the Candle Dragon, who wanted him to join the pilgrimage team and bring good fortune to the dragon clan.

When the White Dragon arrived at Eagle's Sorrow Gorge, there was a toad spirit there, a powerful earth immortal, who preyed on passersby and was covered in karmic burdens.

The White Dragon killed the toad demon in a few moves, seized the place, and went into seclusion in the water, waiting for the pilgrims to arrive.

Sun Wukong performed a play according to procedure, and then the White Dragon replaced the fine horse given to him by Li Shimin, and continued the journey westward with Jin Chanzi.

A month later, a monkey, a horse, and a person arrived in the territory of Black Wind Mountain.

Sun Wukong pointed ahead and said, "I see a temple ahead with thriving incense offerings. We can stay there tonight."

Jin Chanzi naturally had no objections. He led the white dragon horse and soon arrived in front of the temple.

"I'll knock on the door."

"Let me do it! With your hairy face and thunder god mouth, people might mistake you for a monster."

Sun Wukong pursed his lips and told Jin Chanzi to go knock on the door.

Jin Chanzi stepped forward, looked up at the plaque, and said, "Guanyin Temple. It seems that the deity enshrined in this temple is Guanyin Bodhisattva."

After saying that, Jin Chanzi stepped forward and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the gate opened, and a novice monk with a fierce face and an arrogant demeanor walked out, saying impatiently, "This is a quiet place in Buddhism. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket?"

"This humble monk greets you. We are passing through this area, and as it grows hot and late, we wish to ask for lodging here for the night. May I ask..."

"Get out, get out! We don't accept poor monks."

Jin Chanzi was a little angry. He gripped his staff tightly and casually swung it, smashing a millstone-sized rock in front of the mountain gate to pieces.

Then Jin Chanzi asked with a smile, "How could such a rude and unruly person as you emerge from this pure Buddhist temple? Today, this humble monk will teach you a lesson."

When the novice monk saw Jin Chanzi casually smash a boulder, he was initially startled, but he quickly calmed down and sneered, "Don't think you're so great just because you've learned a few martial arts moves. My Guanyin Temple has immortals behind it. You dare to be arrogant with your few farming skills?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Chanzi immediately became interested: "I know most of the immortals and Buddhas in the heavens, but I wonder what the background of the immortal in this Guanyin Temple is?"

"I'll reveal the name of this immortal, and you'll be terrified! Listen carefully."

Just as the novice was about to utter the name of the so-called immortal, Elder Jinchi hurriedly walked over, slapped the novice on the head, and scolded, "So arrogant and unreasonable! Have you fed all the rules taught in the monastery to the dogs? Go back to the hall and receive ten lashes yourself."

The novice monk nodded repeatedly in fright: "Yes, Abbot."

Upon seeing the person in charge, Jin Chanzi asked with a friendly expression, "Are you the host here?"

Jin Chi nodded and said, "I am Jin Chi, and I am the abbot here."

"I wonder who this immortal being that novice monk was talking about is. We would like to have the opportunity to pay our respects to him."

Jin Chi shook his head and said, "There are no immortals in this remote and impoverished place. It's all made up by little monks to scare passing travelers and get more incense offerings."

Jin Chanzi feigned an expression of sudden realization: "Oh, I see."

Elder Jinchi then asked in return, "May I ask where you all come from and where you are going?"

Jin Chanzi said, "We come from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, and we are going to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures."

Upon hearing the words "Eastern Land of the Great Tang," Jin Chi's heart stirred: "So you've come from the Celestial Empire! I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please come in, distinguished guests."

Jin Chanzi and Sun Wukong, who was leading the horse, followed Elder Jinchi into the Zen temple.

The monastery was not small, with about two or three hundred monks. Some were sweeping, some were fetching water, some were chopping wood, and some were chanting scriptures; everyone was doing their job in an orderly manner.

Under Jin Chi's arrangement, everyone checked into guest rooms.

That night, Jin Chanzi looked outside from his meditation room and, seeing no one, whispered to Sun Wukong, "Monkey, I have a feeling something's not right about this Golden Pool."

"What's wrong?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's a really strange feeling. In short, Jin Chi doesn't seem like a good person." Although Jin Chanzi had regained his memories from his first life, his cultivation level was still insufficient, and he didn't have Sun Wukong's Golden Eyes of Insight, so he couldn't see anything specific.

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "There is a faint demonic aura in this Zen temple. That immortal must be a monster."

"I see, then let's..."

"If he doesn't bother us, we don't need to worry about him. But if he dares to provoke us, we'll just kill him." Nothing more was said that night, and the next day, Jin Chanzi prepared to take his leave.

Elder Jinchi has not yet seen the treasures of the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, how could he let Jin Chanzi leave like this?

Elder Jinchi then tactfully explained that a robe-wearing ceremony would be held at the meditation center in the next few days, and he would like to invite Jin Chanzi to attend.

Jin Chanzi smiled and readily agreed.

Elder Jinchi was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Master, you have come from the Celestial Empire, which has countless treasures. May I ask if you have brought any treasures with you?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Chanzi took out a brocade cassock from his bundle. It was inlaid with many precious stones and was dazzling.

The brocade robe and the nine-ringed staff were precious gifts from the Buddhist community before the journey to the West.

Elder Jinchi was stunned, his fingers stroking the robe, revealing a look of rapture.

A treasure! A priceless treasure! Jin Chi has lived for so many years and accumulated dozens of cabinets full of precious kasayas, but all of them combined are not even half the value of this brocade kasaya before him.

Suppressing his greed, Jin Chi quickly said, "If this robe were placed at the robe-wearing competition, it would surely win first place."

Jin Chanzi became interested: "What's the reward for first place?"

Jin Chi said awkwardly, "There is no reward, but the winner must display his robe in his room for monks from all directions to view for three days."

Jin Chanzi waved his hand and said boldly, "Alright, let's participate in this Kasaya Assembly."

A day later, monks from temples within a hundred miles of Black Wind Mountain arrived, each carrying their temple's most prized possession.

After a round of judging, almost without any suspense, Jin Chanzi's brocade cassock won first place. As previously agreed, the cassock would be placed in the meditation room for three days of viewing.

In Elder Jinchi's room, Elder Jinchi cautiously glanced around, and seeing that no one was around, lit incense.

Under the cover of darkness, Elder Jinchi quietly set off alone to the Zen temple. He took out his key and opened the door, whereupon he saw the brocade robe that shone brightly even in the darkness. He swallowed hard, his eyes revealing greed. "What a treasure! It's a rare gem. It's such a waste to leave it in the hands of this monk from the Tang Dynasty. I beg you, Immortal, to lend a hand."

No sooner had Jin Chi finished speaking than a black wind swept in, attempting to take away the cassock.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong, who had been watching the show, raised his staff and scattered the black wind, causing a black bear spirit to fall from mid-air.

"Are you the immortal here?" Sun Wukong asked with interest after looking at the black bear spirit.

"Who are you?" The black bear spirit looked at the monkey in front of him, whose cultivation level he couldn't discern, and asked tentatively.

"Sun Wukong of Flower Fruit Mountain".

"never heard of that."

"This cassock belongs to me, Old Sun."

"Then I don't want it anymore, you can take it back now." After saying that, the black bear spirit respectfully returned the cassock.

No way! He can't even see through the cultivation level of this monkey in front of him. He is, after all, a great demon king of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. If even he can't see through it, the monkey must be at least at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, or even the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

How could he possibly afford to offend him? The Black Bear Spirit is very pragmatic.

Sun Wukong was too lazy to argue with the Black Bear Spirit, so he picked up his cassock and prepared to leave.

But at that moment, the black bear spirit's eyes suddenly became glazed over, and then it suddenly launched an attack.

Sun Wukong's discerning eyes immediately noticed the Black Bear Spirit's abnormality. He struck the Black Bear Spirit unconscious with his staff and then arrived in the heavens, where he saw a humanoid creature with gray skin and emaciated bones.

"You dare to do something under my nose? You really don't know what's good for you!" After saying that, Sun Wukong raised his staff without hesitation and started to hit him.

The humanoid creature was expressionless, with undercurrents surging beneath its gray skin. With a wave of its arms, the surrounding air suddenly turned icy cold, and countless ice blades, sharp as knives, condensed in the clouds above, whistling towards Sun Wukong with a chilling aura.

Sun Wukong remained calm and composed. With a swift movement, he transformed into a golden light, easily dodging the rain of ice blades. He wielded his golden cudgel with impenetrable force, generating gusts of wind that shattered any approaching ice blades.

"Is that all you've got?" Sun Wukong scoffed, stepping on auspicious clouds and instantly closing in on the humanoid creature. His staff, as imposing as a mountain, slammed down. The humanoid creature reacted swiftly, forming hand seals and summoning a massive ice wall in an attempt to block the golden cudgel's attack.

But the golden cudgel was unstoppable. With a loud "boom," the ice wall shattered into countless ice shards, which flew everywhere.

A flicker of panic flashed in the humanoid creature's eyes. Its hands moved rapidly, and it chanted incantations. The winds and clouds above the nine heavens shifted and coalesced into a giant frost dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced on Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong remained fearless. With a sweep of his Golden Eyes, he saw through the ice dragon's true nature. He leaped into the air, his golden cudgel growing a thousand feet in length. With a single strike, the ice dragon let out a mournful cry and transformed into a sky full of icy mist.

After more than ten rounds of fighting, Sun Wukong grew stronger with each battle. His golden cudgel trembled the heavens and earth, howled the winds, and tore the clouds in the sky to shreds.

Although the humanoid creature possessed unpredictable and varied ice magic, summoning ice blades, forming ice walls, and turning ice dragons, combining offense and defense, it was still unable to break through Sun Wukong's staff technique.

Sun Wukong noticed that the opponent's magic power was weakening, and sneered, "You little monster, how dare you be so arrogant!" He flashed and appeared behind the humanoid creature in an instant, his golden cudgel carrying the force of thunder, and slammed down hard.

With a loud "bang!", the heavens trembled. The humanoid creature was unable to dodge in time and was struck squarely on the head by the golden cudgel. Its gray body fell like a kite with a broken string, instantly exploding into a cloud of ice shards and disappearing without a trace.

Sun Wukong sheathed his staff and stood up, looking around. His Golden Eyes of Truth scanned the heavens, and after confirming that there was no further disturbance, he coldly snorted, "You ignorant fool, you dare to scheme against me, Old Sun!"

As the humanoid creature was killed by Sun Wukong, the Black Bear Spirit, who had just been knocked unconscious by Sun Wukong, also woke up.

He looked around in confusion, then remembered Sun Wukong he had just encountered. Without saying a word, he turned and ran.

Who knew that he hadn't run far before he encountered Guanyin Bodhisattva, and then, just like in the original Journey to the West, Guanyin put a golden headband on the Black Bear Spirit, subdued him, and brought him back to her temple.

Sun Wukong, who was high above in the heavens, naturally saw all of this, but he didn't say anything. He returned the cassock to the place where he had been recruited.

Without the Black Bear Spirit, Elder Jinchi plotted to steal the cassock himself.

Finally, by accident, the oil lamp was knocked over, and the Guanyin Temple burst into flames. Sun Wukong retrieved his cassock and left the Guanyin Temple with the White Dragon Horse and Jin Chanzi.

"Alas! Greed, anger, ignorance, and hatred, the six senses are impure, and in the end, Jinchi has only harmed himself!" Jin Chanzi sighed.

"Didn't you ever think about saving Elder Jinchi?" Sun Wukong asked with interest.

Jin Chanzi shook his head and said, "I can't save him, and I don't want to."

"What about the other monks in Guanyin Temple?" Sun Wukong continued to ask.

“This Guanyin Temple has been wrong from the start. If I save them, I will have to help them set things right, which is too much trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong burst into laughter. This Jin Chanzi really doesn't seem like a Buddhist at all!
But this is for the best. Compared to Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West, he prefers to travel with Jin Chanzi, so at least the journey won't be too stifling. (End of Chapter)