Not long after the sacred mountain disappeared, a stunningly beautiful woman with a human body and a snake tail, possessing a gentle and graceful demeanor, appeared at the original location of the sacred mountain. She looked at the churning chaotic energy before her with a slightly surprised expression, then smiled and disappeared from the spot.
The official start of the Journey to the West was like a good signal, and many hidden powerful beings emerged one after another. The Three Pure Ones and Zhunti need no further introduction, but Kunpeng of the demon race, Zhenyuanzi, the Great Immortal of the scattered immortal realm, and the Queen Mother of the West also made their appearances. Although they could not directly take action due to the warning of the Dao Ancestor, they could still watch the excitement or tease Tang Sanzang and his companions. Thus, the Three Realms, which had been quiet for a long time, became lively again. However, they all adhered to one rule: they could not reveal their true identities and must not disrupt the journey to the West.
Mo Mo naturally knew about the beginning of the Journey to the West, and he was even present at the scene, though he didn't show himself. His reason for being there was simple: to see Tang Sanzang, the tenth reincarnation of Jin Chanzi. After seeing Tang Sanzang, he finally confirmed his previous suspicions. Tang Sanzang's physical body was indeed extraordinary. Not only did it contain Jin Chanzi's magical power, but it also condensed the merits of ten lifetimes of good deeds. If someone hadn't sealed it, Tang Sanzang would have ascended to immortality because of that merit. This was also why the demons on the journey to the West were willing to be enemies with Sun Wukong to eat Tang Sanzang. Because Tang Sanzang was like a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir with no side effects. As long as one ate him, ascension to the Great Luo Golden Immortal was guaranteed, and there would be no side effects whatsoever. Faced with such temptation, who could refuse?
After leaving the capital city, now renamed Chang'an, Tang Sanzang, full of vigor, rode westward with a few guards. Little did he know that numerous powerful demons were already eagerly awaiting his arrival. He was like a shining piece of gold, exuding an alluring aura, as he plunged headlong into the demon-infested road to the west. Although he certainly wouldn't be eaten, he was bound to experience plenty of fright and hardship.
After Tang Sanzang left, Guanyin did not return to Luojia Mountain, but instead came to Mo Mo's side. Her current task was to keep an eye on Mo Mo, as she knew him very well. Now that the journey to the West had begun, given Mo Mo's personality, although he wouldn't actually disrupt the journey, no one knew what kind of trouble he might cause. Who knew that no sooner had she left than he would take Tang Sanzang out drinking and eating meat with him? And Mo Mo was actually capable of doing that. So now she had to keep a close eye on Mo Mo until Tang Sanzang accepted Sun Wukong as his disciple.
Looking at Guanyin standing gracefully beside him, Mo Mo was a little speechless. Of course, he understood why Guanyin was following him. However, he did have the idea of disciplining Tang Sanzang, because the Tang Sanzang in the original story was somewhat indecisive, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and easily influenced by what others said. So Mo Mo wanted to teach him a lesson and make him understand the dangers of the world. However, now that Guanyin was by his side, his plans were temporarily thwarted.
Mo Mo remembered that in the original drama, the guards who accompanied Tang Sanzang were eaten by tigers in a forest shortly after leaving Chang'an. He escaped thanks to the sacrifice of those guards and successfully arrived at Liangjie Mountain, also known as Wuzhi Mountain. However, some say that Tang Sanzang was captured by the Tiger Demon King's subordinates at night when he climbed Shuangcha Ridge in Shanbian City, and was eventually rescued by Taibai Jinxing. But none of this mattered to Mo Mo, because he was now following behind Tang Sanzang and would soon be able to see it with his own eyes.
The Buddha's palm strike was meticulously calculated, so Five Finger Mountain was located within the Tang Dynasty's territory, and not far from Chang'an, only less than ten days' journey (a ten-day journey for an ordinary person on foot). Therefore, there was no great danger. In addition, Tang Sanzang was ordered to go to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures, so the officials along the way treated him extremely well. His treatment was not like that of someone going on a pilgrimage, but rather like that of someone on a tour. However, this treatment gradually disappeared as he got further away from Chang'an, but he still did not suffer much, because when he was thirsty, guards would give him water; when he was hungry, guards would beg for alms; and even at night, guards would set up camp for him. These guards were at least Nascent Soul stage cultivators, so Tang Sanzang's journey to obtain the scriptures was exceptionally comfortable, so comfortable that he began to doubt where the tribulations and hardships that Guanyin had mentioned were. And in such comfortable days, they finally approached the Two Realms Mountain, which is Five Finger Mountain.
The reason this place is called Two Realms Mountain is because of a strange phenomenon. With this mountain as the boundary, the side of the mountain, which is closer to Chang'an, not only has good weather and few demons, but also very few highwaymen. On the other side of the mountain, while demons are not rampant, there are countless highwaymen and ferocious beasts. It is precisely because of this that this mountain is called Two Realms Mountain.
"So, once we cross that mountain, we could encounter ferocious beasts or monsters at any time?" After listening to one of the guards' explanation, Tang Sanzang felt a little scared thinking about the man-eating demons he would have to face in the future. However, after looking at the guards around him, his anxiety subsided considerably. He finally understood why he had been living so peacefully these past few days. It turned out that what he had experienced before was just a minor skirmish, and the real test was about to begin.
Just as Tang Sanzang, filled with both trepidation and excitement, gazed into the distance, searching for the mysterious Two Realms Mountain, a loud tiger's roar erupted from the woods beside their group. Startled by the roar, his white horse instantly reared up. Had it not been for the quick reflexes of the guards who swiftly subdued the horse, Tang Sanzang would certainly have been thrown off. Before they could even settle down, a white tiger, over two meters tall and radiating a menacing aura, leaped out. The guards, seeing this, immediately stepped in front of Tang Sanzang, while the guard who had subdued the white horse was terrified. He shouted for Tang Sanzang to tighten the reins and then slapped the horse's rump hard. The white horse, in pain, bolted forward.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 490 Arrival at the Two Realms Mountain
When Tang Sanzang came to his senses, the white horse had already carried him for over a hundred meters. The huge tiger roar and screams behind him made him dare not turn around or stop the horse. He could only hold the reins tightly, desperately trying to maintain his balance so that he wouldn't fall off. He silently prayed in his heart that the guards would be safe and sound, and that he would be safe as well.
Fortunately, Tang Sanzang didn't turn around, otherwise he would have been furious at what he saw behind him. The scene he had imagined didn't happen. The tiger didn't fight with the guards, and the guards weren't seriously injured or killed. They were sitting face to face, emitting earth-shattering screams, but they weren't even wounded or torn. After Tang Sanzang ran far away, the tiger suddenly transformed into a tall, middle-aged man. He patted the guards on the backside, put his arms around their shoulders, and walked back laughing and joking.
Mo Mo, standing in the sky with Guanyin, was speechless at the sight before him. These people were incredibly unprofessional! They only shouted a few times, not even bothering to fight, and they hadn't even damaged a single leaf on the surrounding trees. Mo Mo knew there would be something fishy going on before he came, but he hadn't expected them to be so perfunctory. Tang Sanzang probably never dreamed of what was happening behind him. In the end, Mo Mo shook his head and casually waved his hand. The grove of trees that had been completely undamaged was instantly riddled with holes, as if plowed by a cannonball. Although Tang Sanzang was unlikely to turn back, it was better to be safe than sorry. What if he did turn back, discovered the trick, and then gave up on the journey to the West? What would be the point of their trip then? So Mo Mo decisively took action to eliminate the loopholes left by the guards.
When Guanyin saw Mo Mo's actions, a glint flashed in her beautiful eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Her previously uneasy heart instantly relaxed. As long as she kept an eye on Mo Mo and prevented him from causing any trouble, this journey to the west was basically a sure thing. With Mo Mo around, who would dare to be so reckless as to cause trouble?
Mo Mo didn't learn mind-reading, so he didn't know Guanyin's thoughts. If he did know what Guanyin was thinking at this moment, he would definitely tell her, "You're overthinking it." The reason he took action to cover up these flaws was not because he didn't allow others to disrupt Journey to the West, but because he didn't want Journey to the West to be abandoned halfway. If Journey to the West were to fail prematurely, what would be the point of playing it? However, under certain circumstances, Mo Mo would indeed maintain the normal progress of Journey to the West.
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang rode his maddened white horse at breakneck speed. After an unknown amount of time, he finally ran out of energy and lost his grip, falling off the horse. Fortunately, the white horse had also been running for a long time and was nearly exhausted, so Tang Sanzang wasn't seriously injured. His clothes were torn, and he only had a few bruises, but nothing serious. When he came to his senses, he realized that he had left the forest and arrived at the foot of a large mountain. His white horse was leisurely grazing on the tender grass not far away. Tang Sanzang was overjoyed because his travel permit, travel license, and brocade cassock were still on the white horse. If he had lost them, he wouldn't have been able to continue his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures; he would probably have been arrested as soon as he reached the next city.
After confirming that everything was in order, Tang Sanzang finally felt relieved. However, thinking of the guards, he felt both sorrow and confusion. "Will I have to travel alone from now on? Will I really be able to reach the West and obtain the scriptures?" After thinking for a while, he simply found a clean place to sit down and began to chant Buddhist scriptures. He was performing a ritual for the "dead" guards, which was the only thing he could do for them.
It must be said, although Tang Sanzang had only been a monk for a short time, he actually looked like a virtuous and high-ranking monk when he sat down. However, what he didn't know was that not long after he sat down, a huge tiger followed his previous tracks and walked towards him. Although this tiger was just a wild beast that had not yet become a spirit, it was still over a meter tall and four meters long, with its tail over five meters long. Killing him would be about the same as killing a chick. However, Mo Mo sent the tiger away. The reason why Mo Mo didn't kill the tiger was very simple: there was only this one tiger in the hundreds of miles around Five Finger Mountain, so this tiger was likely to be the raw material for Monkey King's tiger-skin skirt. That's why Mo Mo let it go. While Mo Mo was dealing with the tiger, Guanyin transformed into a peasant woman, carrying a small basket and walking gracefully towards Tang Sanzang.
What happened next was similar to the plot. Guanyin, disguised as a peasant woman, not only shared the food in her basket with Tang Sanzang, allowing him to have a hearty meal, but also gave him three somewhat worn cloth hats. Mo Mo knew that these were the golden headbands that Sun Wukong deeply hated. It was only by using the headband spell that Guanyin had given him that Tang Sanzang was able to make the wild and unruly Sun Wukong obedient. All four of Sun Wukong's fellow disciples, except for the little white dragon who transformed into a white dragon horse, had one. After handing the golden headbands to Tang Sanzang, Guanyin revealed her true form. After Tang Sanzang bowed deeply, she told him about the golden headbands. When Tang Sanzang thanked her, Guanyin had already quietly returned to the sky.
As the saying goes, "Looking at a mountain makes one's horse run itself to death," although Tang Sanzang had already arrived at the foot of the mountain, it took him an hour to actually reach it. Of course, this was also related to the difficult mountain path and Tang Sanzang's pampered upbringing, which prevented him from walking very fast. However, the distance was indeed quite long. While Tang Sanzang was making his arduous journey towards the Five Fingers Mountain, Guanyin had already arrived at Sun Wukong's location there. At this time, Sun Wukong had been imprisoned under the Five Fingers Mountain for nearly five hundred years. Time had passed, and although guards brought him copper balls and molten iron every day, he was still covered by the lush vines. If it weren't for the fact that it was nearing autumn and all the plants were beginning to wither, if Sun Wukong didn't make a sound, even if you stood right in front of him, you might not be able to find him. However, when Guanyin arrived, he still noticed her immediately and called out loudly.
Upon learning of Guanyin's arrival, Sun Wukong's first words were, "Bodhisattva, Wukong knows he was wrong. Please release Wukong. After I leave, I will definitely repent and do more good deeds."
The original Sun Wukong was so arrogant and proud, but now, in order to be released, he was willing to put aside his former pride. This shows how difficult it was for him to endure the five hundred years of suppression. Even after he was released, Sun Wukong was very polite to Guanyin and Buddha, and did not want to offend them at all. This shows how indelible the mark this event left on his heart was. However, perhaps this is also related to his nature. A stone monkey is still a monkey, and monkeys are restless. Buddha's suppression lasted for five hundred years, and during those five hundred years, he could not move anything except his neck. This almost killed him.
But today he was finally free, because Tang Sanzang had arrived, and Guanyin had come to tell him this news, so that the two would not miss each other. Not long after Guanyin left, Sun Wukong indeed heard the clear sound of horses' hooves coming from afar, which made Sun Wukong overjoyed. He was finally free.
(End of this chapter)
2017/11/29 3:21:07|46413187
Chapter 491 Breaking Free from Seal
"Om Mani Padme Hum," Tang Sanzang sat cross-legged atop Five Finger Mountain with a devout expression, softly reciting the six-syllable mantra on the seal. As he recited the mantra, a majestic and compassionate voice seemed to respond to him from the heavens and earth. With that enormous voice echoing through the heavens and earth, Five Finger Mountain suddenly shone brightly, and then the seal affixed to the mountaintop moved without wind, fluttering and flying into the air.
After the seal was removed, Sun Wukong, who was pressed under the Five Fingers Mountain, shuddered. He finally sensed the immense power within him again. The surging power within him made him want to roar, but he restrained himself. The person who had risked his life to climb to the top of the mountain and remove the seal was still there. If he were to unleash his power now, he would surely die.
Tang Sanzang was physically weak, so it took him quite a while to descend the mountain. This was even more true for Sun Wukong, who was already extremely anxious. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe his feelings at that moment as if every second felt like a year. However, he endured it all. This also shows that Sun Wukong was indeed kind-hearted and knew how to be grateful. Otherwise, given what Tang Sanzang had done on the journey to the West, Sun Wukong would have killed him with a single blow long ago. Not to mention the Tightening-Headband Mantra, if Tang Sanzang had actually recited that mantra, given Sun Wukong's speed, Tang Sanzang's body would probably be cold by now.
After Tang Sanzang had run far enough away, Sun Wukong exerted his strength, and the mountain that had imprisoned him for nearly five hundred years instantly cracked open. With a long roar filled with boundless joy, the mountain that had stood for hundreds of years shattered into pieces and then exploded with a deafening roar. Huge rocks flew everywhere, some even landing near Tang Sanzang, who was thousands of meters away. At this moment, Tang Sanzang finally understood why Sun Wukong had told him to run as far away as possible.
Having escaped his predicament and regained his freedom, Sun Wukong was overjoyed. Ignoring the fact that he was still wearing tattered fairy clothes, he rode his somersault cloud and flew around freely in the sky. After flying for a while, he finally found Tang Sanzang's location, plunged into the river, and swam in the water to his heart's content, washing away the dust that had accumulated on his body for hundreds of years.
What happened next was similar to the original story. After washing his body, Sun Wukong found that all his clothes were tattered and unwearable. So Tang Sanzang gave him a set of his monk's robes. Tang Sanzang originally didn't want to give Sun Wukong the hat embroidered with a little tiger (the golden headband), but Sun Wukong was too fast. By the time Tang Sanzang reacted, Sun Wukong had already put it on his head. As soon as the hat was on his head, Guanyin, who was next to Mo Mo, quietly recited the Tightening Mantra, which made the golden headband firmly fixed on Sun Wukong's head.
Although Sun Wukong didn't know the purpose of this thing, he instinctively felt something was wrong. After some effort, he found that he couldn't remove the golden headband from his head no matter what he did. So he wanted Tang Sanzang to remove it for him, but Guanyin only taught him the Tightening Mantra and didn't teach him how to remove it. Tang Sanzang was an honest man, and he quickly told him everything Guanyin had told him. However, Sun Wukong didn't believe it. Although he was grateful to Tang Sanzang for escaping his predicament, it didn't mean he could accept Tang Sanzang riding on his head. So he had a thought: "This golden headband is controlled by this monk, so doesn't that mean that as long as I kill this monk, the golden headband will be removed?" But after thinking about it again, he abandoned this idea. Because the golden headband was given by Guanyin, the real controller should be Guanyin. Moreover, he was not a heartless person, and he couldn't do something like killing his benefactor. So he put away the golden headband and flew towards Mount Luojia with a somersault.
At this moment, Tang Sanzang was unaware that he had just stepped halfway into the gates of hell. He was still staring blankly in the direction where Sun Wukong had flown away with a whoosh. "Didn't the Bodhisattva say that this was my eldest disciple who would protect me on my journey to the West to obtain the scriptures? Why did he leave without a word?"
However, no sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Sun Wukong, who had already flown far away, suddenly flew back. When he saw Tang Sanzang standing there dumbfounded, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. But then he flew away again, only to return in less than two seconds. He repeated this back and forth several times, leaving Tang Sanzang, who was watching from the side, completely bewildered and puzzled.
After returning to the original spot, Sun Wukong finally gave up. Although he didn't know who it was, he was certain that it was the work of some great supernatural being. However, he was certain that it was not Buddha or Guanyin, because the two of them would not be so bored. Moreover, it seemed that the other party had no malicious intent. Otherwise, with the strength that allowed the other party to manipulate him, they would have simply slapped him to death. There was no need to set up such a barrier to play with him.
Sun Wukong guessed correctly; the one who set up the barrier was indeed not Guanyin or Tathagata. However, this person's relationship with Guanyin was indeed quite close, because it was Mo Mo who did it. As for the reason, of course, it was for fun, and also to stop Sun Wukong. After all, Guanyin was right here, not on Luojia Mountain, so in order to prevent Sun Wukong from taking an unnecessary detour, Mo Mo stopped Sun Wukong.
"May I ask which senior has graced us with their presence? Has Wukong offended you in any way?" After returning to his original spot, Sun Wukong respectfully bowed in all directions. He thought to himself, "I've already gone this far, you can't possibly continue to make things difficult for a junior like me, can you?" As soon as he finished speaking, a change occurred in the sky. Specks of light bloomed, and a figure radiating soft golden light quietly appeared. To the surprise of both Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang, there was actually another person beside Guanyin, and it was a young man dressed in a plain cloud robe.
With Guanyin already present, Sun Wukong no longer needed to travel to Mount Luojia. After paying his respects to Guanyin, he quickly stated his request. However, Guanyin, knowing his wild nature, feared he would disregard Tang Sanzang's advice and refuse. But while refusing him, Guanyin also made a promise: the day the journey to the West ended would be the day the golden headband would be removed. This calmed Sun Wukong considerably. Only after settling down did Sun Wukong realize that he had actually seen the person beside Guanyin before, and that the person had patted him on the shoulder and told him to cultivate diligently.
"Little monkey, you recognize me? It's been so many years. I didn't expect you to have such cultivation. But this is far from enough. The journey to the West will be a trial for you, but also an opportunity. Observe more, listen more, think more, and act less impulsively. I believe you will definitely gain a lot." Mo Mo saw that Sun Wukong was a little stunned when he saw him, and understood that he had given way to him. So he took the opportunity to give him some pointers. If he could really do as Mo Mo said, observe more, listen more, and think more, then he would definitely have some good gains when the journey to the West ended.
"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I am extremely grateful. May I ask your name and where your immortal home is? I will definitely visit you to express my gratitude in the future." Although he did not know Mo Mo's identity, he felt immense pressure from Mo Mo, even greater than when he faced Tathagata. Judging from Mo Mo's words and actions with Guanyin, they were clearly on the same level, so it was always good to cultivate a good relationship.
"My name is Wangchen. As for my residence, you will know when we meet again." Mo Mo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mysterious smile.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 492 You guys are so slow! Our kids are old enough to run errands by now.
After leaving Wuzhi Mountain, Mo Mo and Guanyin parted ways. Guanyin returned to Luojia Mountain, while Mo Mo went back to his little hill. To Mo Mo's somewhat amusement and dismay, when he returned to his little hill, he found Yi Chen standing prettily at the entrance of his cave, waiting for him. Only then did he understand why Guanyin had left so readily; she was waiting for him here. However, Mo Mo did not mind Yi Chen's arrival. After all, living alone could be quite lonely at times, and having Yi Chen as a companion was quite nice, allowing him to relieve boredom while continuing his cultivation.
Mo Mo was happily living her life, while on the other side, Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong continued their westward journey after leaving Five Finger Mountain. Of course, Sun Wukong gladly accepted the tiger skin that had been offered to him, and had it made into a tiger skin skirt at a farmhouse not far from Five Finger Mountain. The old man at this farmhouse had once picked wild fruits for Sun Wukong to eat, so that night Sun Wukong secretly left and returned to Flower Fruit Mountain, picking a large bag full of spiritual fruits and leaving them for that family before they left. Tang Sanzang was very pleased when he found out, praising Sun Wukong for his gratitude.
However, as the saying goes, one's cool demeanor lasts only three seconds. A few days later, the two passed by Eagle's Sorrow Gorge, the place where the White Dragon was imprisoned. Without warning, the white horse that had accompanied Tang Sanzang for months was swallowed by the White Dragon. Later, they quarreled over whether or not to kill a group of bandits. Tang Sanzang eventually drove Sun Wukong away, but he regretted it afterward. It was clear that demons had been involved in the previous incident, and now his horse was gone. He not only lost Sun Wukong's protection but also his horse. How could he possibly continue his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures?
However, Tang Sanzang was also a man of firm will. After staying at a farmer's house for two days, he resolutely set off. Of course, this was also because he learned from the old man that the creature that ate his white horse that day was not a demon, but a white dragon that was confined to this place. Moreover, the white dragon did not harm people, but only ate livestock and wild animals. This gave him the courage to go to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.
After leaving, Sun Wukong didn't return to Flower Fruit Mountain. Instead, he went to the territory of his old neighbor, the Dragon King of the East Sea, to freeload. When Sun Wukong told the old Dragon King about his previous experiences, the old Dragon King told him about the fate of the Dragon Prince of the West Sea. Under the persuasion of the old Dragon King of the East Sea, Sun Wukong finally changed his mind and returned to Tang Sanzang's side. After fighting and defeating the White Dragon, he was transformed into a white horse by Guanyin and carried Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West.
After this battle, Tang Sanzang and his disciples continued their journey westward. After encountering several insignificant obstacles, they arrived at a place called Guanyin Temple. Abbot Jinchi warmly received Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Despite the disdain of the other monks, Sun Wukong ignored Tang Sanzang's advice and took out Tang Sanzang's brocade cassock to show off to Abbot Jinchi. Abbot Jinchi's fondness for the cassock had reached a point of madness. Upon seeing this treasure, he became greedy. Under the pretext of borrowing the cassock from Tang Sanzang to admire it, he seized it for himself and ordered the monks to set it on fire, intending to burn Tang Sanzang and his disciples to death.
However, Sun Wukong was no ordinary man. He first went to the South Heavenly Gate to borrow the Fire-Avoiding Cover from Guangmu Heavenly King, thus protecting Tang Sanzang. Then, he blew a divine wind, causing the fire to reverse and burning Guanyin Temple to the ground. When Elder Jinchi saw this, he thought it was Guanyin manifesting her power. He was ashamed and terrified, feeling he had no face to continue as abbot. So he jumped into the fire and died. However, the brocade cassock was secretly stolen by the bear demon of Black Wind Mountain, who wanted to hold a "Buddha's Robe Gathering" to show off the treasure.
This black bear spirit was indeed extraordinary. Although no one had ever taught him, he possessed a trace of the bloodline of an ancient blue bear. With the power of this bloodline and the bits and pieces of inheritance, he managed to fight Sun Wukong for hundreds of moves. In the end, Sun Wukong failed to capture him and let the black bear spirit escape. No matter how hard Sun Wukong searched, he couldn't find the black bear spirit. Finally, he had no choice but to ask Guanyin for help. Guanyin saw that the black bear spirit actually possessed the bloodline of an ancient blue bear and had a deep Buddhist nature. Since her Luojia Mountain was in need of a guardian general, she subdued him. As for the lesser demons, they either fled or died.
Mo Mo regretted it for a moment after learning about this, lamenting the loss of a perfect ingredient, which left Yi Chen, who was watching from the side, speechless. Mo Mo remembered that after the Black Bear Spirit in the original story, it seemed that it was Pigsy's turn, so he immediately started preparing, making sure to have everything from melon seeds and peanuts to popcorn and a small stool. This was going to be quite a spectacle, because because of him, this Zhu Wuneng was not the Pigsy from the original story. Although his current strength had not yet reached the previous level, he had already returned to the Taiyi realm, while Sun Wukong had only just entered the late Taiyi stage. The difference in their strength was not significant, and because he had the entire empire as his backing, Zhu Wuneng's Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang were even more profound than when he was in the Heavenly Court. So if the two of them really clashed, it would be quite a show to watch.
When Mo Mo finished preparing everything and arrived above Gao Lao Zhuang with the newly crafted stool, Sun Wukong and the others had already moved into one of the houses in Gao Lao Zhuang. When Mo Mo saw Zhu Wuneng's condition, he immediately spat out the chilled peach blossom wine he was drinking, because the scene before him was too shocking, making Mo Mo somewhat unsettled. When Yi Chen, who was standing to the side, gave Mo Mo a reproachful look and then turned his gaze to the direction Mo Mo was looking, he was also instantly stunned.
It wasn't that Mo Mo and Yi Chen weren't in a good enough state of mind; rather, the scene unfolding before them was simply too shocking. Following their gaze, what came into view was a grand yet exquisite mansion. In the mansion's garden, a family of three was sitting happily and warmly in a pavilion, watching the blooming chrysanthemums while enjoying fresh and juicy fruit.
At first glance, this scene seems perfectly normal, but what if the male protagonist were replaced by Zhu Wuneng, and the female protagonist by Chang'e? Moreover, there is a little girl with delicate features between them, whose features are very similar to the two of them, making it obvious that they are related. How could this not be shocking?
However, after sensing for a moment, Mo Mo and Yi Chen noticed something was amiss. Although the woman beside Zhu Bajie resembled Chang'e in appearance and temperament, she lacked the ethereal and otherworldly aura, and her temperament was not as aloof as Chang'e's, but rather more gentle and graceful. Later, Mo Mo and the others learned from Zhu Wuneng that the woman's identity was none other than Gao Cuilan, the one Zhu Bajie couldn't forget from the original story.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 493 Second Senior Brother Joins the Team
The fact that Zhu Wuneng even had a child surprised Mo Mo and the others, and Yi Chen was even more furious. Zhu Wuneng already had a child, but the immortals and gods who were monitoring Zhu Wuneng had not sent out any news. However, the matter was already settled, and there was no use in her being angry. The most important thing now was how to deal with this matter. After all, the choice of people to go to the west had already been decided, and now that the pilgrims were at the door, it was too late to change it.
Yi Chen and Guanyin were of one mind, so with a single thought, Yi Chen learned of the matter and rushed to Gao Village. When Guanyin appeared in Zhu Wuneng's courtyard, he knew that he had indeed been somewhat inconsiderate, but when emotions run deep, one cannot control oneself. Therefore, Guanyin did not blame him too much. She simply took Gao Cuilan and the little girl under her wing and brought them back to Luojia Mountain. Zhu Wuneng was initially a little unwilling, but when he heard that Guanyin wanted to arrange for the two to go to Mo Mo's peach grove, he almost wanted to agree wholeheartedly. However, what Zhu Wuneng did not know was that Mo Mo was not on Luojia Mountain, nor were the little black dragon and the others. Nevertheless, he would not agree so readily.
However, this matter still needed some work, otherwise how could Zhu Wuneng join? They couldn't just let Zhu Wuneng abandon his wife and daughters and eagerly join them, could they? So after some discussion, they decided to have Mo Mo transform into an ordinary person and falsely accuse Zhu Wuneng of being a monster. Then, when Zhu Wuneng was fighting Sun Wukong, Guanyin would intervene and enlighten him to accompany Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures. His wife and daughters would be taken back to Luojia Mountain by Guanyin.
Things progressed very smoothly. Tang Sanzang learned that a demon in the village was abducting a woman and causing havoc in the village. He felt great sympathy for the demon and immediately sent Sun Wukong to subdue it. When Sun Wukong arrived at Zhu Wuneng's residence, he found that there was no demonic aura in the house. On the contrary, it was filled with a rich aura of immortals. This was clearly because an immortal lived there. However, driven by curiosity, he still entered Zhu Wuneng's residence.
However, before he could even investigate the mansion after entering, a nine-toothed rake carrying immense force swung towards his head. Sun Wukong, who was known for his fiery temper, couldn't tolerate this, and the two instantly engaged in a fierce battle. However, both were afraid of harming innocent bystanders, so they held back their strength. Therefore, although the commotion was considerable, the damage was not significant. Moreover, the two intentionally shifted the battlefield to the sky, so apart from one room having its roof damaged, the rest was largely unharmed.
As the fight began, Sun Wukong's doubts deepened. He discovered that his opponent not only possessed magical power no less than his own, but also had a physical body that was not much weaker. What surprised him even more was that his opponent was using pure immortal techniques, and like him, he was a body-refining cultivator. All of this reminded him of his previous havoc in the Heavenly Palace and the unforgettable five hundred years of suppression that followed. As a result, he became increasingly aggressive. However, to his astonishment, although his opponent's cultivation level was slightly higher than his, the two had already exchanged hundreds of blows, yet the opponent showed no signs of being at a disadvantage.
Perhaps Guanyin also wanted to see Zhu Wuneng's abilities. After all, they not only bore the heavy responsibility of protecting Tang Sanzang, but also the task of eliminating demons on the journey to the West. Therefore, Guanyin needed to have a general understanding of everyone's strength so that she could make timely adjustments. So the two fought all the way from the ground to the sky, and then from the sky to the mountains outside Gao Village. Wherever they passed, rocks flew and trees broke. Later, the two were really enraged and each used their best skills. Zhu Wuneng used the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang and turned into a giant dragon a hundred feet long. Sun Wukong was not to be outdone and after a roar, he turned into a giant ape more than a hundred meters tall.
With a deafening roar, the two colossal beings collided with tremendous force. When the raging winds from their collision subsided, the mountainside where they had collided was completely shattered by the aftershocks of their battle, forming a crater several hundred meters wide. Deep, crisscrossing cracks crisscrossed the earth around the crater. Inside the crater, Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng stood facing each other, leaning on their weapons, panting heavily while remaining wary of one another.
Both men were in a sorry state, their clothes tattered and making them look like beggars, and they were covered in dust and dirt. However, judging from their condition, Sun Wukong had gained the upper hand in the previous attack, and judging from Zhu Wuneng's drooping right hand, Zhu Wuneng had obviously lost the battle. But Sun Wukong hadn't gained much advantage either; one of his eyes was slightly closed, and if it weren't for the monkey hair on his face, one could definitely see the bruise on it.
"Hey, you fool, which immortal mountain are you worshipping, and what skills are you cultivating? We might have met five hundred years ago, why bother fighting like this?" After regaining some strength, Sun Wukong put away his golden cudgel and asked about Zhu Wuneng's background. Although the two had fought fiercely, neither of them had gone all out because they hadn't sensed any killing intent from the other. This only made Sun Wukong more suspicious, so he really wanted to know about Zhu Wuneng's background. He was terrified of being tricked like this.
"You wretched monkey, you didn't even know how to hold back. I won't be able to use this hand for a while, but we have indeed met before. Do you recognize me now? Bi Ma Wen." As if afraid that Sun Wukong wouldn't hear him clearly, Zhu Wuneng emphasized the words "Bi Ma Wen" and, while speaking, he used his transformation technique to become the same person he was when he was Marshal Tianpeng in Heaven.
The title "弼马温" (Bima Wen) was undoubtedly one of Sun Wukong's taboos, so he immediately pulled out his golden cudgel. However, when he saw Zhu Wuneng's appearance, his expression changed drastically. He had indeed seen this person before, and he had once beaten him to a pulp. However, now that the other party had transformed and changed his appearance, although he was still no match for him, he was able to fight him with great skill. This made him fall into deep thought.
However, he was interrupted before he could even begin, because Guanyin finally appeared. She first picked up a willow branch from her jade pendant and gently waved it downwards, restoring the shattered landscape to its original state. Only then did she reveal the identities of the two men. At this moment, Sun Wukong realized that the person in front of him was actually Marshal Tianpeng of the Heavenly Court, who had been banished to the mortal realm for harassing the fairy Chang'e. Now, after being enlightened by Guanyin, he, like him, was also a disciple chosen by Guanyin for Tang Sanzang.
Upon learning that Zhu Wuneng was also Tang Sanzang's chosen disciple, Sun Wukong was overjoyed. From Guanyin's words, he knew that the journey to the West would definitely not be easy. Now that someone with strength not much less than his own had joined, it would make things much easier for him. And most importantly, with Zhu Wuneng's addition, he would no longer need to lead the horse; he would only need to scout ahead.
After Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng got to know each other, Guanyin took them back to Gao Village. Under Guanyin's witness, Zhu Wuneng formally became Tang Sanzang's disciple, and Tang Sanzang gave him the Dharma name "Bajie" to mean that he should not be greedy for worldly desires. Zhu Bajie's wife and daughters left with Guanyin on a cloud amidst the envious gazes of the people of Gao Village.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 494 High Energy Ahead
After Zhu Bajie joined the team, the journey to the West continued. After leaving Gao Village, they passed through Huangfeng Ridge, Liusha River, and other places. When they passed Liusha River, Sha Wujing successfully joined the team, and the team for the journey to the West was officially assembled. Then, the story of the Old Mother of Lishan and the three Bodhisattvas Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra transforming into ordinary people to find a husband and tease Tang Sanzang and his disciples occurred. However, Zhu Bajie at this time was not the Zhu Bajie in the original story, so the master and his disciples passed the test smoothly. But they were not so lucky next, because what awaited them was the little black dragon and her companions.
The cave dwelling where the little black dragon and her companions lived was not far from Zhen Yuanzi's Wuzhuang Temple. It would only take an ordinary person a day to get there, so they could be considered neighbors. Zhen Yuanzi was both in pain and happy. Why do I say that? It was naturally thanks to the little black dragon.
Although the little black dragon's cultivation level was not as high as Mo Mo's, her experience of the world was no less than his. Moreover, she had been influenced by modern society and had seen too many strange and wonderful ideas in this era of information explosion. Therefore, even a little bit of what she said could greatly benefit Zhen Yuanzi, who was already a powerful figure in the prehistoric era. The painful thing was that the little black dragon was a complete glutton, and she especially loved ginseng fruit. In just over a hundred years, she had almost completely devoured all the ginseng fruit he had saved up over the years. But the ideas that the little black dragon put forward were always refreshing and new. After digesting one, he wanted to hear the next one, which made him unable to stop.
However, he later learned his lesson and limited the supply of ginseng fruits, which stopped him from living on a meager existence. Of course, he also knew that Mo Mo was more powerful than the little black dragon. Although the two had met a few times, they were not familiar with each other, and he was too embarrassed to approach her. So, the days passed by like this. One day, he calculated with his fingers and realized that there were only a few days left before Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived. So, he took a few ginseng fruits and went out to visit his friends. After all, if he didn't leave, how would Sun Wukong and the others have a chance to steal ginseng fruits? If they didn't steal ginseng fruits, how could he participate in the Journey to the West and share in the merit? Although the merit was certainly not much, every little bit counts. When Zhen Yuanzi left Wuzhuang Temple, Sun Wukong and the others were less than ten miles away from the little black dragon's Peach Blossom Village.
Although Yi Chen went to live with Mo Mo in his cave and wasn't actually in Peach Blossom Village, the little black dragon was still a powerful expert at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, with unparalleled divine sense. She had already discovered Tang Sanzang and his disciples when they were hundreds of miles away. However, after discovering Tang Sanzang and his disciples, they didn't take any further action and continued their daily lives, some cultivating and others sleeping. However, the little black dragon made the sign outside Peach Blossom Village, which read "Monks and men are not allowed to enter, violators will be severely punished," even more concealed. After lunch, she also patrolled Peach Blossom Village and carefully checked the surrounding traps.
Don't underestimate these traps. Although they look similar to ordinary traps, they are quite different inside. Ordinary traps are simply a deep pit dug in the ground, with some branches or something similar laid on top for support, and then a layer of camouflage placed on top to make them invisible. More ruthless ones will even drive sharpened wooden stakes into the pit. Their traps may look similar to ordinary traps at first glance, but if you dare to underestimate them, they will teach you a lesson in no time.
The pit was actually just an ordinary pit, created and then concealed by magic. The biggest difference between this pit and ordinary pits was that they had set up numerous formations within it, such as gravity formations, swamp formations, double gravity formations, tenfold gravity formations, and thunder formations—they had it all. And the most insane thing was that they had also set up trigger-activated ground spikes, random teleportation, high-altitude parachuting (triggered to teleport a person directly to a high altitude and imprison their entire body's magic power, causing them to freefall, automatically braking when they were only one meter from the ground, allowing them to land safely), and invincible wind and fire wheels (imprisoning magic power and grabbing the feet with wheel rims), etc. When Mo Mo saw these things, he silently mourned for Tang Sanzang and his companions for three seconds, and then he decisively copied them to his little hill. Of course, he made a slight modification, putting all these things into a maze, and to get out of this maze, one could only move forward step by step.
At this moment, Tang Sanzang and his companions were unaware of what awaited them ahead as they marched step by step toward Peach Blossom Village. Sun Wukong had already scouted the area and found that within a radius of several hundred miles, there were only Peach Blossom Village and Zhen Yuanzi's Wuzhuang Temple. However, Wuzhuang Temple was too far away, and Tang Sanzang could not reach it on foot. Therefore, if they wanted to find lodging today, they could only go to Peach Blossom Village.
The four travelers hurried towards Peach Blossom Village, finally arriving before nightfall. Sun Wukong didn't see any demonic energy there; instead, he found the spiritual energy to be incredibly rich. Reassured, he confidently headed towards the wooden houses within the village. However, a terrifying thing happened: the exquisite houses, though seemingly only a few hundred meters away, remained unreachable even after walking for over an hour. The distance between them hadn't shortened at all. They had tried calling out to the houses, but received no response. Finally, somewhat frustrated, they had to give up and decide to spend the night in the forest. Fortunately, many fruit trees in the forest were laden with large, plump fruits.
"Wukong, why is it that the wooden house is not far from us, but we have walked for so long and still can't get there? Is there a monster causing trouble here?" Although he had decided to camp in the forest, Tang Sanzang was still very shocked by what he had just seen, so he voiced his doubts.
"Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. My master is just a mortal, and I hope you will forgive him for any offense he may have caused. We are only staying here for one night and will leave tomorrow. We will not disturb you for too long." Before Sun Wukong could speak, Zhu Bajie bowed in the direction of the wooden house and apologized.