Honghuang: Eat a Hunyuan Daluo

Jin Chanzi and his companions stayed a few more days at the warm invitation of Chen Cheng, Chen Qing, and the villagers of Chenjiazhuang before finally departing.

After leaving Chenjiazhuang, Jin Chanzi and his group continued westward.

They encountered many monsters along the way, but only a few left a deep impression on the master and his disciples.

The main reason is that Sun Wukong's cultivation level is too high, and with the change in the rules of the Journey to the West, he doesn't need to give face to anyone and can just push his way through.

Only a handful of demons could put up a fight with Sun Wukong, among whom the most memorable were the Nine-Headed Lion and Laozi's Green Ox.

First, let's talk about the Green Ox. After descending to the mortal realm, the Green Ox randomly arrived at a celestial mountain, named it Golden Gourd Mountain and Golden Gourd Cave, and proclaimed itself the King of the Unicorn Rhinoceros.

Although Qingniu appears obedient and silent when he is by Taiqing's side, he completely lets loose after descending to the mortal realm.

In just one month in the mortal realm, it attracted hundreds or even thousands of lesser demons, and the excitement on Golden Gourd Mountain never stopped.

However, the Green Ox did not eat people. In his opinion, mortals were too filthy and not as delicious as oranges. He, the Green Ox, followed Laozi and ate golden pills and drank the heavenly nectar.

Whether eating cicadas can grant immortality through reincarnation is unknown, but eating the green ox will definitely grant immortality.

Every day, the Green Ox eagerly awaited the arrival of Jin Chanzi and his disciples so that he could fight Sun Wukong and then return to Heaven to continue consuming the elixirs refined by Laozi.

With the daily consumption of Golden Elixir, the Green Ox's cultivation level has already reached the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

Unbeknownst to him, the Green Ox had been in the mortal realm for several years, and he finally met up with Jin Chanzi and his group.

At this time, Jin Chanzi and his companions arrived at the foot of Jindu Mountain. Jindu Mountain was originally located in the southwest corner, but Qingniu felt that the direction was wrong and was afraid that Jin Chanzi and his companions would take a detour. So he used his great supernatural powers to move the mountain to the due west direction.

In this way, if Jin Chanzi and his companions wanted to continue their westward journey, they would have to pass through Jindu Mountain.

On Mount Jindu, a nimble and agile wild bull demon trotted into the Jindu Cave: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, a group of people have come to the foot of Mount Jindu. They seem to be the pilgrims you mentioned."

Qingniu flipped himself up with a somersault, his eyes shining: "Really? What do they look like? What are their features?"

“A monk, a monkey, a pig, you and the black-faced, clumsy monk, and a white horse.”

Upon hearing this, the blue ox burst into laughter and charged straight out.

As soon as Sun Wukong and his companions stepped into the territory of Jindu Mountain, they sensed a surge of demonic energy.

The Green Ox could no longer contain itself. It transformed into a streak of green light, accompanied by a gust of wind, and rushed straight down from the Golden Gourd Cave, landing in front of Tang Sanzang and his disciples. It was a burly man with a single horn on its head. Its eyes flashed with fighting spirit, and it held a steel spear about twelve feet long, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Haha, Sun Wukong! I, the old bull, have been waiting for you for a long time!" The green bull roared, his voice booming like a bell, startling the birds in the mountains. "Today, I'll show you the might of the One-Horned Rhinoceros King!"

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment, truly not expecting that there would be monsters who would attack without warning.

However, seeing that the Green Ox had already charged over, Sun Wukong naturally wouldn't hold back. With a thought, he drew his golden cudgel and pointed it at the Green Ox: "What an arrogant bull demon! I, Old Sun, will see what you're capable of!"

Before he finished speaking, Sun Wukong's figure blurred, transforming into a golden light, his staff shadow as large as a mountain, and he smashed straight towards the Green Ox.

The green ox remained calm and composed, taking a step forward and thrusting his spear to meet the golden cudgel.

The two magical treasures collided, sparks flew everywhere, and the Golden Gourd Mountain shook violently.

Relying on his extraordinary talent, Sun Wukong was able to master everything he learned and move with great agility. In an instant, he used his seventy-two transformations to become a golden-winged roc, its sharp claws aimed straight at the face of the green ox.

The green ox snorted coldly, spewing out green flames that blazed like dragons, forcing Sun Wukong to flip over and dodge.

"Monkey, your supernatural powers are nothing but empty boasts to me!" The Green Ox said fiercely as he immediately used the Taiqing Daoist Technique, and a huge bull shadow appeared behind him with horns like sharp blades, charging towards Sun Wukong.

Undeterred, Sun Wukong's eyes flashed with golden light, and his piercing golden pupils discerned the flaws in the Green Ox's moves. He shifted his body to the side, dodging the ox's shadow, and his golden cudgel transformed into hundreds of shadows, raining down on the Green Ox like a storm.

Although Qingniu was at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, with cultivation comparable to Sun Wukong, his supernatural powers and spells were far less sophisticated than the Monkey King's. Seeing his supernatural powers being broken so easily, he broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly used the Taiqing Secret Technique, Taiqing Divine Thunder, Nine Heavens Divine Wind, and even the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones technique, which he had not yet mastered.

No matter how much the Green Ox struggled, Sun Wukong always anticipated his moves and, with his all-seeing golden eyes, made the Green Ox's attacks seem transparent, completely countering them.

After more than a hundred rounds of fighting, the Green Ox began to feel the strain, and beads of sweat appeared on its forehead.

Seeing that the battle had dragged on without a clear victor, the Green Ox devised a plan. He suddenly unleashed the Vajra Bracelet, which swelled in the wind, transforming into the size of a millstone, its golden light dazzling and carrying an aura that seemed to absorb the very essence of heaven and earth.

Caught off guard, Sun Wukong's golden cudgel slipped from his grasp and was sucked into the golden bracelet, disappearing without a trace.

"Haha, Sun Wukong, now that you've lost your golden cudgel, let's see how arrogant you can still be!" The Green Ox laughed triumphantly, waving the Vajra Bracelet, trying to suck Sun Wukong in as well.

But Sun Wukong was incredibly quick-witted. He rode his somersault cloud and instantly disappeared more than a hundred feet away, cursing, "You sneaky bull demon, relying on your magic weapon to cause trouble! I, Old Sun, will beat you to a pulp even with my bare hands!"

Even without the golden cudgel, Sun Wukong was not afraid at all. His eyes shone brightly with golden light, and his Golden Eyes of Truth were activated to the fullest extent, allowing him to see every move of the Green Ox.

The Green Ox brandished the Vajra Bracelet, attempting to absorb the attack again, but Sun Wukong moved like a ghost, shifting left and right, relying on his Seventy-Two Transformations and the agility of his Somersault Cloud to dodge the attacks time and time again.

"Take this!" Sun Wukong roared, transforming into a hundred-foot-tall Vajra, his body as solid as a mountain, his fists whistling like thunder, as he smashed towards the Green Ox.

The Green Ox hurriedly used its Taiqing Qi to protect itself, but was still shaken by Sun Wukong's punch, causing its blood and qi to surge.

He then used the Vajra Bracelet, but Sun Wukong was already prepared. He transformed into a gentle breeze, circled behind the Green Ox, and used his grappling technique to lock the Green Ox's throat.

The Green Ox tried to break free by using several different supernatural powers, but found that Sun Wukong could always anticipate his moves, his Golden Eyes of Truth seeing through his weaknesses, and every punch landed with deadly force.

In the heat of the battle, Sun Wukong delivered a powerful punch to the Green Ox's chest. The Green Ox staggered back, blood trickling from the corner of its mouth, and the light of the Vajra Bracelet in its hand dimmed slightly.

"Stop! Stop!" The Green Ox panted heavily, raised his hands, and said with a wry smile, "Monkey, I give up! Your supernatural powers are indeed amazing. My Vajra Bracelet is strong, but it can't do anything to your Insightful Golden Eyes!"

With that, the Green Ox Demon retrieved his Vajra Bracelet, tossed out his Golden Cudgel, and sighed, "I'm not fighting anymore! I'm going back to Heaven to eat my Golden Elixir. This wretched place in the mortal realm is just too boring!"

Sun Wukong took the golden cudgel and laughed loudly, "You're quite sensible. If I'm not mistaken, you should be Laozi's Green Ox, right?" The Green Ox nodded.

"As expected, please pass on a message to Grand Master Xuandu: once I, Old Sun, finish my journey to the West, I will personally go to see him."

The green ox said it remembered and then returned to the Heavenly Court.

Aside from the Green Ox, the other demon who could rival Sun Wukong was the Nine-Headed Lion.

After descending to the mortal realm, the Nine-Headed Lion Spirit occupied the Nine-Bend Cave on Bamboo Mountain in Yuhua Prefecture of Tianzhu Kingdom. Because his grand-disciple, the Yellow Lion Spirit, stole the weapons of Sun Wukong and others, he angered them. The Nine-Headed Lion Spirit stood up for his "family" and fought a great battle with Sun Wukong.

In the original Journey to the West, the Nine-Headed Lion is the mount of Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, who is also the mount of Qinghua Emperor. At this time, Qinghua Emperor's position is in Bixiao. The original Qinghua Emperor has become a first-rank divine official in the Heavenly Court, and his cultivation level is in the late stage of Quasi-Saint.

Nine-Headed Lion Saint possesses the cultivation level of a peak Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Just after Sun Wukong and his companions retrieved their weapons, they encountered the Nine-Headed Lion, who fought them directly to protect his descendants.

Relying on his talent of being able to understand everything, Sun Wukong instantly unleashed his seventy-two transformations, transforming into a hundred-foot-tall golden body. He wielded his golden cudgel, its shadow like a mountain, and smashed it down on the Nine-Headed Lion.

The Nine-Headed Lion remained calm and composed. Its nine heads moved simultaneously. One head opened its mouth and spewed out raging flames that burned the sky and boiled the earth, forcing Sun Wukong to turn and dodge. The other head spat out lightning, which crackled and shattered the rocks.

Upon seeing this supernatural power, Sun Wukong knew that this demon was no ordinary being. He opened his Golden Eyes of Truth and saw through the flaws in the Nine-Headed Lion's attack. With a flicker, he transformed into countless clones, attacking from all directions.

The Nine-Headed Lion was not afraid. Each of its nine heads used its supernatural powers, with wind, fire, thunder, and lightning intertwining, and poisonous mist and ice emerging at the same time, forcefully shattering Sun Wukong's clones one by one.

The two fought for dozens of rounds, their battle so intense that the sky darkened and sand and stones flew across Bamboo Mountain. Outside the cave, the demon soldiers, Pigsy, Sandy, and others kept their distance, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Seeing that ordinary methods could not subdue Sun Wukong, the Nine-Headed Lion decided to use its ultimate move.

With a sway of its body, its nine heads simultaneously opened their blood-red maws and let out a deafening roar, so powerful that Sun Wukong almost lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Then, he seized the opportunity, and each of his nine heads locked onto Sun Wukong, launching a relentless attack.

Sun Wukong suffered a silent loss and was sent flying, but fortunately, he had an indestructible body and withstood the attack.

When Sun Wukong returned, he leaped and bounded on his somersault cloud, his golden cudgel transforming into countless shadows, and fought fiercely with the Nine-Headed Lion.

At the height of the battle, the Nine-Headed Lion Saint unleashed his ultimate technique, "Nine Elements Return to One".

The nine heads roared simultaneously, their nine supernatural powers merging into one, transforming into a world-destroying golden pillar of light that blasted directly at Sun Wukong.

Wherever the beam of light passed, mountains collapsed and the earth cracked, and the void trembled; its power was comparable to a full-force attack from an early-stage Primordial Golden Immortal.

Seeing the Nine-Headed Lion King approaching with overwhelming force, Sun Wukong activated his Golden Eyes of Truth at full power, instantly seeing through a flaw in the pillar of light. He flashed away, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Demon Lion, your move is powerful, but its flaws are obvious!" Sun Wukong laughed loudly, and took the opportunity to use the Law of Heaven and Earth, transforming into a giant ape that stood tall and firm. He threw a punch, and the wind from the punch was like a dragon, which shattered the attack of the Nine-Headed Lion.

Immediately afterwards, he unleashed his three heads and six arms, each arm wielding a phantom of a golden cudgel, attacking the nine heads of the Nine-Headed Lion Saint, forcing the opponent to retreat repeatedly.

Although the Nine-Headed Lion had profound magical power, Sun Wukong's supernatural abilities were versatile, and his Golden Eyes of Truth could anticipate the enemy's moves, so the Nine-Headed Lion gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. Its nine heads roared in unison, trying to resist with their demonic power, but they found that Sun Wukong's attacks were like mercury flowing across the ground, penetrating everywhere.

After two hundred rounds of fighting, the Nine-Headed Lion's strength gradually waned, the light of its nine heads dimmed, and its aura became disordered.

"Stop!" The Nine-Headed Lion King leaped out of the battle, his nine heads shouting in unison, "Sun Wukong, I acknowledge your great skill! My grand-disciple, the Yellow Lion Spirit, stole your weapon; it was indeed reckless of him. I apologize on his behalf!"

Having said that, he waved his claw and ordered the little demons to return the Golden Cudgel, the Nine-Toothed Rake, and the Demon-Subduing Staff.

Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to retrieve their weapons, and then said, "Nine-headed lion, you know what's good for you! Considering you didn't hurt my master, I, Old Sun, will spare you this time."

Nine-Headed Lion gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "I was only trying to protect my family. Since that's the case, I will return to Bamboo Mountain to cultivate in seclusion and no longer concern myself with worldly affairs."

After speaking, the Nine-Headed Primordial Saint transformed into a golden light and disappeared into the Nine-Bend Winding Cave, where he remained hidden.

After passing the Nine-Headed Lion, Jin Chanzi and his group continued their journey and soon arrived at Mount Ling.

Then came the much-anticipated investiture ceremony: Jin Chanzi was named the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, Sun Wukong was named the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Zhu Bajie was named the Clean Altar Messenger, Sha Wujing was named the Golden-bodied Arhat, and the White Dragon was named one of the Eight Heavenly Dragons, Guangli Bodhisattva.

A massive amount of fortune and merit followed, and not only did Jin Chanzi's cultivation recover, but he also broke through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit and became a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Sun Wukong went a step further and reached the level of a Hunyuan Golden Immortal.

Pigsy's cultivation level improved by two minor realms, reaching the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

Sha Wujing also condensed his own Great Luo Dao Fruit and became a true Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The White Dragon leaped from the Golden Immortal realm to the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

Buddhism, Taoism, and the Heavenly Court all received a significant share of the fortune.

Haotian immediately announced his seclusion to perfect his supreme Dao. Duobao Tathagata also sensed an opportunity to attain sainthood, while Xuandu used his merits to break through to the level of Quasi-Saint.

Subsequently, Jin Chanzi and his disciples returned to Jinshan Temple with the Buddhist scriptures. Sun Wukong also understood the timing that Xuandu had mentioned. He put the Golden Elixir Path together with the Buddhist scriptures, intending to ask Jin Chanzi to pass on the supernatural powers of the Taiqing lineage to the human race.

Jin Chanzi naturally agreed immediately.

Soon, the four returned to the Tang Dynasty. After paying their respects to Emperor Taizong of Tang, Pigsy returned to Gao Village, Sandy returned to Heaven, and the White Dragon returned to the Western Sea.

Only Sun Wukong did not leave for the time being. He and Jin Chanzi preached at Jinshan Temple in the capital for 10 years, imparting Buddhist scriptures and the teachings of the Taiqing lineage to all humankind.
Under Li Shimin's impetus, this matter proceeded very smoothly. In just ten years, Sun Wukong and Jin Chanzi had already taught tens of thousands of human cultivators who had mastered Buddhist supernatural powers and the Golden Elixir Dao of the Taiqing lineage.

Of course, during this time, some mountain spirits and monsters also came to listen to the teachings, and Sun Wukong and Jin Chanzi welcomed them all.

These humans and mountain spirits who listened to their teachings are the seeds; they will spread Buddhist scriptures and the many supernatural powers of the Taiqing lineage throughout humanity, enabling every human to become like a dragon, passing on the torch from generation to generation, so as to cope with the primordial crisis. (End of this chapter)