In the third battle against the White Bone Demon, Tang Sanzang mistakenly entered the cave of the Yellow Wind Demon and was captured. Just as the Yellow-Robed Demon was about to cook and eat Tang Sanzang, his wife secretly released him. It turned out that the Yellow-Robed Demon's wife was Princess Baihua Xiu of Baoxiang Kingdom, who had been kidnapped to the Wave Moon Cave thirteen years ago. After secretly releasing Tang Sanzang, she asked him to deliver a message to her father. However, what they did not notice was that a flea on Tang Sanzang's clothes was observing their every move.
The flea was actually Sun Wukong in disguise. According to the original story, Sun Wukong should have been driven away by this time. However, because of Mo Mo, Zhu Bajie was not the lazy and gluttonous Zhu Bajie from the original story, so Sun Wukong was not driven away. Therefore, from the moment Tang Sanzang mistakenly entered the Wave Moon Cave, Sun Wukong had been watching. What surprised Sun Wukong was that although the Yellow Wind Monster said he wanted to eat his master, he showed no intention of making a move. Moreover, he allowed Baihua Xiu to release Tang Sanzang. That's right, Sun Wukong discovered that the Yellow Wind Monster was actually present when Baihua Xiu released his master, and he seemed to have already noticed Sun Wukong, but he did not make any other move.
Filled with doubt, Sun Wukong and his disciples went to Baoxiang Kingdom and told the king about Princess Baihuaxiu's situation. The king, missing his daughter, pleaded with Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing to go up the mountain to subdue the demon. However, just as they were leaving Baoxiang Kingdom, the Yellow Robe Monster transformed into a handsome young man and came to the royal palace of Baoxiang Kingdom to pay respects to his father-in-law. He then used his magic to transform Tang Sanzang into a tiger and imprison him in a cage. When Sun Wukong and his disciples realized something was wrong and returned to Baoxiang Kingdom, the king regarded them as monsters and was about to kill them. In the end, in order to avoid harming innocent people, they had no choice but to leave.
After leaving the palace, Sun Wukong went to Mount Luojia for help. Finally, under the guidance of Guanyin, he arrived at the Heavenly Court. Only after arriving at the Heavenly Court did he learn from the Jade Emperor that the Yellow Wind Monster was actually Kui Mulang Star, one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, who had descended to the mortal world. The Jade Emperor then sent the Twenty-Seven Constellations to the Heavenly Court to summon the Yellow Wind Monster back to the Heavenly Court.
Although the Yellow Robe Monster was subdued and his master was rescued, Sun Wukong was not happy at all. Finally, he shared his doubts with Zhu Bajie, who unexpectedly burst into laughter. Seeing Sun Wukong's puzzled expression, Zhu Bajie explained in detail. Only then did Sun Wukong realize that the Journey to the West was nothing more than a well-scripted play, and they, including Tang Sanzang, were just pawns in it. This made Sun Wukong both angry and helpless, and he finally understood the meaning of what Mo Mo had told him before.
Although he had long harbored suspicions, he never imagined the reality would be so cruel. It turned out that he had been nothing more than a clown all along, and the so-called havoc in the Heavenly Palace was nothing but a joke. Moreover, there were so many powerful figures above him. However, this did not discourage him; instead, it ignited his surging fighting spirit. But this surging fighting spirit was quickly extinguished by the tedious and boring journey, and they returned to their usual calm. On this day, it was already afternoon, but they were still a long way from the next city. Just when they thought they would have to spend the night in the wilderness again, the sharp-eyed Sun Wukong suddenly spotted an exquisite little house under a blooming peach tree on an inconspicuous hill not far away.
"Master, there's a house on the mountain ahead. How about we stay there for the night?" Sun Wukong hesitated, looking at the wooden house half-hidden under the peach trees in the distance. He suddenly remembered that the valley he had been in was also full of peach blossoms, just like the small mountain. However, when he saw the several peach trees laden with large, plump, and glistening peaches, his hesitation vanished instantly. He hadn't tasted peaches of such quality since his havoc in the Heavenly Palace. Thinking of the peaches in the Peach Garden, Sun Wukong couldn't help but swallow. The taste of the peaches was truly tempting, and judging from their appearance, they would definitely taste good.
Then, a surprising scene unfolded. Sun Wukong, who was initially very wary of the sudden appearance of a guesthouse in the mountains, was now urging Zhu Bajie and the others to hurry on their way. This surprised Zhu Bajie and the others quite a bit. However, when they saw the peach trees laden with large, glistening peaches, everything became clear. But looking at those translucent peaches, Zhu Bajie felt that they looked somewhat familiar. However, Sun Wukong's urging forced him to temporarily put aside his idea of carefully examining the peaches and carefully lead the white dragon horse forward.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 500 The Gluttonous Monkey King
Mo Mo remained calm as he watched Tang Sanzang and his disciples approach the hut. Unlike Xiao Heilong and the others, who were filled with eager anticipation as Tang Sanzang and his disciples drew closer, Mo Mo's only reason for remaining in this world after seeing Xiao Shu was to break through to the Saint Realm. He was almost there, and all he needed now was an opportunity.
After Zhu Bajie knocked on the door, Diao Chan opened it. Although Diao Chan didn't often travel in the Three Realms, many people knew of her, since she was a disciple of Guanyin. Indeed, Diao Chan was Guanyin's disciple, accepted after Mo Mo taught her the Seventy-Two Transformations. Guanyin even held a small apprenticeship banquet, which took place in Mo Mo's peach grove. Because of this, although Diao Chan wasn't particularly strong, few dared to provoke her, and many images of her circulated in the Heavenly Court. Zhu Bajie had happened to see her before, hence the gasps of surprise at the door.
"Fairy Diao Chan, is this your celestial abode? Is Guanyin Bodhisattva also here?" After his initial amazement, Zhu Bajie quickly voiced his questions.
"This isn't my celestial abode, this is the Emperor's temporary lodging. The Emperor (a title bestowed upon Mo Mo by the Jade Emperor, merely an empty title, a symbol of status with no real power) is currently entertaining guests. You mustn't wander around, or you'll offend the guests, and even the Emperor won't be able to save you." She warned Tang Sanzang and his companions, after all, Nuwa and the others were still there. Although they were quite easy to get along with, who knew if these clumsy men might accidentally offend them? So she decided it was best to warn them in advance.
Zhu Bajie was initially very excited when Diao Chan said that the Emperor was there, but upon hearing that there was a distinguished guest, and judging from Diao Chan's tone, this guest was someone even that person couldn't afford to offend, he immediately became timid. However, leaving rashly would be quite impolite, so he could only bite the bullet and follow Diao Chan inside. Of course, he didn't forget to tell Tang Sanzang and the others to be careful, especially Sun Wukong, because he had now recognized that these were not ordinary peaches, but clearly the giant peaches that ripened only once every nine thousand years in the Queen Mother's Peach Garden. So he was really afraid that Sun Wukong would be unable to resist climbing the tree to pick and eat the peaches.
In fact, Mo Mo wasn't entertaining any guests, because there were no outsiders here except Nuwa. After spending more than a month together, Nuwa had become their good sister. Don't get the wrong idea, it was just that the little black dragon and the others had recognized each other as sisters. The reason Diao Chan said that was just to prevent them from meeting Mo Mo directly, since if they met, there would be no fun left. So, under Diao Chan's arrangement, Sun Wukong and the others stayed in one of the side rooms, and after settling them in, she left them there and ignored them.
After Sun Wukong and his companions settled into their room, things were quite quiet. However, as night fell, they couldn't stay still anymore. A tempting aroma wafted in through the window on the evening breeze, tantalizingly filling their nostrils and making them swallow hard. They reasoned that since they were staying there, they should at least get some food! To their surprise, an hour passed, then two, but no one brought them dinner. The enticing aroma had already faded away an hour earlier.
"Master, have they forgotten about us? Should we go check on them? It's getting late, and we'll go hungry tonight if we don't go soon." Although Zhu Bajie wasn't mistakenly reborn as a pig like in the original story, his years of life in the mortal realm had instilled in him the habit of eating three meals a day, not to fill his stomach, but simply to satisfy his appetite. Now, with delicious food right in front of him, how could he resist? Moreover, he knew that Mo Mo had a very easygoing personality, unlike other powerful figures who were eccentric, so he made this suggestion.
Having traveled all day, Tang Sanzang, being a mortal, was already starving. Zhu Bajie's suggestion was exactly what he wanted, so he readily agreed. Zhu Bajie knew Mo Mo, making him the best candidate. After Zhu Bajie left, Sun Wukong felt a pang of unease thinking about the large peaches on the peach trees outside. Remembering what Zhu Bajie had said about Mo Mo being a very easygoing person, he couldn't resist rushing out as well. By the time Sha Wujing tried to stop him, Sun Wukong had already disappeared.
A few minutes later, Sun Wukong pushed open the door with his bottom and walked in. When he came in, Tang Sanzang and the others noticed that he was carrying several huge peaches. These peaches were crystal clear, as if you could see the flesh inside through the skin. Moreover, these peaches occasionally emitted a wisp of colorful light, which made it clear that they were not ordinary. Even before Sun Wukong got close, Tang Sanzang and the others could smell the fruity fragrance emanating from the peaches, making their mouths water.
"Wukong, did you pick these peaches from those peach trees by the door? Did you ask the owner of this place?" Although Tang Sanzang also wanted to eat these peaches, Zhu Bajie's words were still ringing in his ears, and he was very opposed to such petty theft. Therefore, when he saw Sun Wukong returning with a pocket full of peaches, he was a little worried and quickly asked where the peaches came from.
Sun Wukong naturally knew Tang Sanzang's temperament. If he said that he picked the peaches himself without the owner's permission, Tang Sanzang would definitely make him return them. So, he rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "Master, how could that be! The female bodhisattva who brought us here picked them for us. She said it was a small token of the owner's appreciation, one for each of us. So, Master, you can eat them without worry."
Sun Wukong understood Tang Sanzang, but Tang Sanzang understood him just as well. So, although his explanation was reasonable, he still didn't quite believe it and insisted on waiting for Zhu Bajie to return before eating together. Sun Wukong had no choice but to put down the peaches, but he couldn't resist picking one up and taking a bite. Tang Sanzang shook his head at this, but since Sun Wukong had already started eating, he couldn't say anything more. Besides, in his opinion, it was just a few peaches, nothing serious. He would apologize to the host later.
While Sun Wukong was enjoying his meal, Zhu Bajie was clumsily stirring the food in the pot under Mo Mo's guidance. The food Mo Mo had prepared earlier had already been eaten up by the little black dragon and his companions, and the dishes were a mix of meat and vegetables, which Tang Sanzang and his group couldn't finish. So when Zhu Bajie came looking for him, Mo Mo took him to the kitchen and let him do what he could. When Zhu Bajie burned a pot of stir-fried vegetables for the third time, Mo Mo finally couldn't help but offer some pointers.
A dozen minutes later, under Mo Mo's guidance, Zhu Bajie finally finished preparing their dinner and solemnly placed it in the food box. As Zhu Bajie hummed a little tune and walked briskly into the room, Mo Mo whispered, "May you have sweet dreams tonight. I hope you will like the big gift I have prepared for you."
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 501 Tang Sanzang with Great Perseverance
Zhu Bajie was overjoyed because he not only saw Mo Mo again, but also received personal guidance from Mo Mo. Although the guidance was not on cultivation, it still excited him greatly, because he had never heard of anyone in the Three Realms who had the honor of being personally guided by Mo Mo. As for Diao Chan, he simply ignored her, because in the eyes of the immortals and gods of the Three Realms, Diao Chan could be considered Mo Mo's half-disciple. However, when he carried the food box into the room and saw Sun Wukong sitting sideways in a chair, enjoying the peaches in his hand, he felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.
"Monkey, Monkey King, are those peaches you picked from the peach tree outside?" Although Zhu Bajie was shocked, his temperament was extraordinary, so he didn't drop the food box like in those TV dramas. Tang Sanzang, seeing Zhu Bajie's expression, immediately understood that his eldest disciple had caused trouble again, so he quickly asked Zhu Bajie, "Bajie, did Wukong cause trouble again? I told you not to take other people's things. Luckily, we only ate one peach. Bajie, quickly return the rest of the peaches and take your master there. I will apologize to the owner in person and hope that they can forgive us."
Looking at the anxious Tang Sanzang and the puzzled Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie sighed and said, "Forget it. With the Emperor's strength, if he didn't let anyone pick those peaches, my brother's strength wouldn't even be able to get close, let alone pick so many." He paused, glancing at the four large peaches on the table, before continuing, "And brother, didn't you originally intend to pick a few more? But after picking one for each of you, you found you couldn't pick any more?"
Sun Wukong was a little embarrassed upon hearing this, and said, "That's right, and that's why I dared to bring it back for my master and the others to eat."
“That’s right. There are five peaches here, one for each of us. So they really are a gift from the owner of this place. Master, you can eat them without worry.” With that, Zhu Bajie walked over, took a peach in one hand, and took a big bite out of one of them before handing the other to Tang Sanzang.
Zhu Bajie hadn't eaten a peach of immortality for many years, so once he took the first bite, he couldn't stop. However, he didn't forget to explain the origin and effects of the peach to Tang Sanzang. When Tang Sanzang heard that the peach takes nine thousand years to bloom, nine thousand years to bear fruit, and nine thousand years to ripen, and that it takes a total of twenty-one thousand years from blooming to maturity, he was shocked and his eyes widened. So when Zhu Bajie said that eating the peach could make one ascend to heaven and live forever, he wasn't surprised at all, because he was completely numb.
After listening to Zhu Bajie's explanation, Tang Sanzang remained stunned for a long time. When he finally came to his senses, he looked at the peach in his hand, which was smaller than his head, but he couldn't bring himself to eat it. After hesitating for a long time, Tang Sanzang suddenly said, "Bajie, do you think if I eat this peach, I will ascend to the Heavenly Court? And if I ascend to the Heavenly Court, will I still be able to continue my journey to the West to obtain the scriptures?"
Zhu Bajie and his companions had waited so long, only to be met with Tang Sanzang's words, which nearly made them faint. However, they were immediately impressed by Tang Sanzang's unwavering will. These were peaches of immortality, ripening only once every nine thousand years. Ordinary people who ate them could ascend to immortality and join the ranks of the celestials, while for immortals like themselves, eating them could greatly enhance their cultivation or the refinement of their primordial spirit. So, let alone ordinary mortals, even those at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level would be tempted to possess them, as even in the Heavenly Court, only a select few immortals could enjoy them on the Queen Mother's birthday each year. But now, Tang Sanzang's intention was that if he ate them, he would ascend to heaven and be unable to continue his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures; therefore, he would not eat the peaches. What immense willpower that required!
Looking at Tang Sanzang's determined eyes, Sun Wukong and the others were deeply impressed. From that moment on, they finally accepted their somewhat nagging, indecisive, and overly kind master from the bottom of their hearts.
Although Tang Sanzang noticed the changes in Sun Wukong and his companions, he didn't understand what it meant. However, he knew it was undoubtedly a good thing for them. But his question remained unanswered by Sun Wukong and the others. Zhu Bajie, facing Tang Sanzang's gaze, also couldn't answer, because he didn't know what would happen if Tang Sanzang ate this. So, facing Tang Sanzang's gaze, the three brothers lowered their heads. Finally, Tang Sanzang thought for a moment and said, "Since you don't know either, then I won't eat it. I originally thought that if I ate this peach, I could have some ability to protect myself. Since you don't know either, then you can have the peach, Wujing. This should increase your cultivation, and then you can share some of the pressure with your two senior brothers."
"Master!" Sha Wujing, holding the peaches offered by Tang Sanzang, was so moved that he wanted to kneel down, but Tang Sanzang stopped him. Just then, a clear and melodious voice rang in their minds, "This is really touching. I originally wanted to use your theft of the peaches as an excuse to teach you a lesson, but now I can't do it. However, don't give those peaches to anyone else. If you can't eat them, Tang Sanzang, Mo Mo won't prepare any for you."
Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was taken aback at first, then immediately knelt down and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Bodhisattva."
"I am not a female Bodhisattva, my name is Zhu Sha. I am just a poor little black dragon exploited by Mo Mo. If you want to thank me, then have your disciples beat Mo Mo and rescue my sisters from his clutches... Ouch!" With a cry of pain, the clear voice disappeared from Tang Sanzang and his disciples' minds. This made Tang Sanzang and his disciples look at each other in confusion. Finally, Sha Wujing remembered who Zhu Sha was. When they learned that she was someone like family to Mo Mo, they were completely relieved. Tang Sanzang ate the peach, and Zhu Bajie gave the white dragon horse the one.
On the other side, Mo Mo looked helplessly at the little black dragon, who seemed completely unfazed. A faint red mark on the little black dragon's fair forehead was very noticeable. The origin of this red mark was naturally Mo Mo's finger-flicking technique, and it was that flick that interrupted the little black dragon's words.
After being interrupted by Mo Mo, the little black dragon rubbed its fair forehead, then casually took a washed peach from the fruit plate on the table and started biting into it. It showed no embarrassment at being caught playing a prank. After finishing the peach, it even stretched out its fair little hand to Mo Mo, asking for snacks as compensation for the prank. This annoyed Mo Mo, so he pulled the little black dragon over and pressed it onto his knee.
I forgot to post it after I finished writing it, so I'll post both chapters together now.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 502: The same familiar recipe and the same familiar taste.
After a gasp, a crisp slapping sound came from inside the room—the sound of Mo Mo's hand landing on the little black dragon's bottom. Although it was through her clothes, Mo Mo could still feel the amazing elasticity in his hand. However, he quickly forgot about it because the little black dragon struggled fiercely. Although she was a black dragon, she was still no match for Mo Mo. Nevertheless, she did cause him a little trouble, but only a little trouble.
After giving the little black dragon a good beating, Mo Mo felt much better. This little girl had taken advantage of his doting on her and had tricked him quite a bit. Now he finally got his revenge. However, Mo Mo didn't notice that as his hand fell again and again, the strength of his grip gradually decreased, and the little black dragon's cries of pain turned into groans. She had also stopped struggling. But as soon as this trend started, Mo Mo stopped what he was doing, and the little black dragon blushed and disappeared without a trace the moment Mo Mo released her.
Watching the little black dragon run away in an instant, Mo Mo felt a smug look. "After this lesson, this girl should be able to behave for a while. She really thought I couldn't handle her. But the feel was really good. Cough cough, I'm getting a little carried away. I wonder if Tang Sanzang can eat the peaches of immortality. After all, he didn't eat the ginseng fruit that Zhen Yuanzi gave him in the original story. But his body has been protected by layers of measures, so eating one or two shouldn't be a problem."
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples had finished off all the peaches they had. Sun Wukong collected the peach pits. Although even if these pits could be planted, they wouldn't be peaches of the highest quality, they still had a foundation. Even if they were inferior, they would be close enough. Although Flower Fruit Mountain had many fruits, especially peach trees, most of them were spiritual roots of peaches of the highest quality, not even reaching the level of immortality. Once these peach pits took root and sprouted, they would at least be of immortality quality. Moreover, Sun Wukong had another thought: if Mo Mo could grow peaches of the highest quality, why couldn't he? Unfortunately, what Sun Wukong didn't know was that Mo Mo's peach tree wasn't planted by himself, but was given to him by the Jade Emperor. However, even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care. He planted these peaches simply because they were indeed delicious. As for their effects, he really didn't care much.
The peaches were already quite large; one would be enough to fill an adult up. Moreover, these peaches possessed immense celestial energy, so Tang Sanzang was quite full and groaned for about half an hour before finally falling asleep. However, he was only a little overeaten. As for the food that Zhu Bajie had prepared, he naturally couldn't enjoy it and it all ended up in the stomachs of his three senior brothers, Sun Wukong and his companion. After Zhu Bajie went out to add hay to the White Dragon Horse's fodder, the three of them also went to sleep. And just as they fell asleep, an invisible wave enveloped them all.
At dawn, the sun shone over the mountains, casting its light upon the world. Sun Wukong scratched his slightly itchy face and suddenly felt the sunlight was too bright. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the direct light and then opened them. He was stunned by the sight before him, for they were no longer in the side room of the wooden house, but had arrived in a magnificent ancient world.
The valley is surrounded by green waters, and the green mountains on both sides are full of vitality. Tigers roar and monkeys howl in the forest, while waterfalls on both sides of the cliffs hang like the Milky Way hanging upside down from the sky. The water crashes into the pools below the cliffs with a thunderous roar, and steam rises up and fills the entire valley. The water mist refracts the sunlight into a variety of colors, which is very beautiful. The rows of cranes flying in the sky add a touch of ethereal beauty. However, Sun Wukong has no time to appreciate such a beautiful scene. He only wants to know why they are here.
"Master, Pigsy, Sandy, wake up! We're in trouble!" After the initial shock, Sun Wukong quickly woke up Tang Sanzang and the others one by one. When Tang Sanzang and the others saw the scene before them, they were stunned. Last night, they were sleeping peacefully in the room of the Emperor Wangchen. How did they end up in an unfamiliar place after just one night? Were they dreaming?
Tang Sanzang pinched his thigh hard in disbelief, wincing in pain, before he was convinced that he wasn't dreaming and had actually come to such a dreamlike place. Upon realizing it was real, his first reaction was to quickly ask Sun Wukong and the others for information.
Although Sun Wukong and his companions possessed great supernatural powers, they weren't capable of knowing exactly where they were just by looking at them. So, after discussing it, they decided that Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing would stay behind to protect Tang Sanzang, while Sun Wukong, being fast enough, would first scout out the surrounding area. But as soon as Sun Wukong took flight, tragedy struck. A massive bolt of lightning struck him with a deafening roar, causing him to convulse and plummet back to his previous position.
Seeing Sun Wukong struck by lightning, Zhu Bajie and the others were shocked and rushed out to check on him. They discovered that although Sun Wukong looked badly struck, he wasn't actually injured. Moreover, his body underwent a slight change with the electric arcs. This slight change made them pale with fear, because they had recently experienced a similar event—a painful memory they didn't want to recall. They never expected to encounter the same situation again today. Just then, the usually taciturn Sha Wujing suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now! The voice we heard last night was exactly the same as the one we heard in that valley full of peach blossoms!"
After Sha Wujing said that, they finally remembered that the two voices were indeed the same. They had felt that the little black dragon's voice was somewhat familiar when they first heard it, but they had subconsciously ignored it because they did not want to recall the previous incident. When Sha Wujing brought it up, they suddenly realized that it was too late. Zhu Bajie had a bitter smile on his face after he realized it.
With a wry smile fading from his face, Zhu Bajie said with a sigh, "I thought that rumor was just a baseless rumor, but I didn't expect it to be true."
"What rumors?" Although they were trapped here, Tang Sanzang and his companions were not worried about their safety at all. They knew that although they would suffer a lot later, they would not be in any danger to their lives. Moreover, they would receive considerable benefits afterward. For example, after the Peach Blossom Valley incident, Tang Sanzang, who was originally powerless, could now easily walk for one or two hours without resting. Sun Wukong and his companions would receive even greater benefits. Therefore, they were not worried about their safety at all. It was precisely because of this that they had the leisure to gossip about the rumors Zhu Bajie had mentioned.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 503 Super Gift Pack
As Zhu Bajie vividly recounted his story, Tang Sanzang and his companions gradually came to understand what the so-called legend was all about. The legend said that the Forgotten Emperor was the first peach tree born at the beginning of creation, and thus he planted a peach grove wherever he went.
Perhaps it was because he attained enlightenment through a peach tree that Emperor Wangchen, despite his profound cultivation, was naturally easygoing and kind to others, though he disliked crowds. The fairy named Zhusha beside him was the vine that had grown alongside him. However, this vine fairy's personality was the opposite of his; she loved excitement, was mischievous, and had a penchant for pranks. Moreover, when Emperor Wangchen attained enlightenment, this Zhusha fairy damaged her own essence to provide spiritual power to the Emperor Wangchen, who lacked spiritual power, making it difficult for her to improve her cultivation. It was precisely because of this that Emperor Wangchen doted on her so much that even Guanyin Bodhisattva's Purple Bamboo Forest suffered at her hands.
Meanwhile, Mo Mo's expression shifted between light and dark as she looked at the crystal ball, about the size of a football, placed on the table in the lobby. The image displayed on the ball was a live feed of Zhu Bajie and his companions, and naturally, Zhu Bajie's words were also being heard by Mo Mo. Besides Mo Mo, another person whose expression changed drastically was Xiao Heilong.
Just then, Zhu Bajie and the others, who were sitting together, suddenly froze. They suddenly realized something: since Mo Mo could bring them to this place without them noticing, he could also check the situation here at any time. In other words, their words had likely been heard by Mo Mo and his group without a trace. After realizing this, Zhu Bajie and the others were instantly drenched in cold sweat. Zhu Bajie was filled with endless regret. Why hadn't he kept his mouth shut? But it was too late. The once pristine white clouds above their heads had turned pitch black, and streaks of lightning flashed intermittently. At that moment, Mo Mo's majestic but emotionless voice entered their minds.
"This is a small space I casually created to test you. To test you, I've set up ten checkpoints. The only way for you to leave is to start from where you are and work your way forward. Only by passing all ten checkpoints and defeating the final guardian can you leave this space. Each checkpoint has a time limit. If you fail to pass the current checkpoint within the allotted time, lightning will fall from the thunderclouds above your heads as punishment until you pass. After passing each checkpoint, you will have half an hour to rest. Alright, the game begins. Good luck! Now, prepare for your first checkpoint: endless lightning strikes! This is a special gift I've prepared for you."
Tang Sanzang and his companions really wanted to say, "Great Immortal, your gift is too precious. Can we refuse it?" However, they ultimately didn't say it, because they knew that even if they did, Mo Mo wouldn't accept it. He had already brought them here; how could he allow them to refuse?
Mo Mo set up ten checkpoints in this space. Originally, there was no lightning punishment, but Zhu Bajie's careless words angered Mo Mo, so Mo Mo added this punishment at the last minute. If Tang Sanzang and the others knew the truth, they might have caught Zhu Bajie and given him a beating first. However, even if they knew the truth now, they probably wouldn't have the time to do so, because the dazzling bolts of lightning behind them were relentlessly striking their backsides. If they were even slightly slow, they might get struck, and they didn't want to experience that excruciating pain again.
There are ten levels in this space. The first level is called Infinite Lightning Strike, which means that countless bolts of lightning will chase them from behind. If they want to avoid being struck by lightning, they can only move forward according to the instructions marked by Mo Mo in advance. This level is somewhat like an escape level such as Temple Run.
The second level is called the Bottomless Abyss. It is located on a plain in a valley. In this level, bottomless pits will appear under their feet. Mo Mo has set up lightning arrays in these pits. If they fall into them, they will receive free electric therapy. After the electric therapy ends, they will reappear in the same place.
The third challenge is "Deep Water Horror." After traversing the plains, they will encounter a large river. There are two ways to cross the river: one is to walk across a single-plank bridge, and the other is to swim across. If you walk across the single-plank bridge, various large fish will leap out of the water from both sides of the bridge to attack the people on the bridge. These fish are condensed by Mo Mo using the power of the laws of this space, so even Sun Wukong would feel pain for a long time if he were hit by one. Moreover, the cruelest thing is that if you are knocked into the water, the people on the bridge will be teleported back to the starting point of the single-plank bridge. If you swim across, you will be endlessly pursued by the large fish in the river until you reach the shore. And these fish will not only chase you from behind; they may surround you from all directions.
The fourth level is the Endless Desert, but this level is mainly based on illusion arrays, so it actually tests willpower. As long as your willpower is strong enough, you can get out of the endless desert. The fifth level is the Endless Sea of Fire, which is basically the same as the previous desert. After these two levels, the subsequent levels are basically the same as those that Little Black Dragon and the others went through, except that they are divided into areas. These ten levels test a person's overall qualities, both psychological and physical. Of course, these levels will be automatically adjusted according to the actual situation of the person entering, otherwise Tang Sanzang would have already given up in the first level.
Meanwhile, while Tang Sanzang and his companions were going through a difficult and arduous ordeal, Mo Mo and his group were sitting around the crystal ball, enjoying various snacks and side dishes with relish, occasionally commenting on the crystal ball. Inside the crystal ball, Tang Sanzang and his companions were struggling forward in the space created by Mo Mo, experiencing both pain and joy.
As the saying goes, "Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are destined for them, but first it will test their minds, starve their bodies, empty their spirits, and disrupt their actions..." Okay, Mo Mo admits he's just finding excuses to torment Tang Sanzang and his companions. Of course, he's not just messing around; he's doing it purposefully. Besides improving their strength and tempering their character, he's also subtly reminding them that they are merely pawns. The only way to escape this role is to possess immense power. Otherwise, even if they survive this time, there might be a second, a third, and so on. This isn't just Mo Mo's wild guess, because Journey to the West has several sequels, such as Stephen Chow's movie "A Chinese Odyssey," and a TV series whose source Mo Mo can't recall, "Journey to the West: The Sequel." There are countless other adapted versions of Journey to the West, so anything is possible. Mo Mo doesn't want his childhood idol, who dared to shatter the heavens in the face of injustice, to become a Buddhist henchman whose pride has been worn away.
(End of this chapter)
2017/12/5 16:48:30|46676671
Chapter 504 Successfully Passed
The white dragon horse, its hooves facing west, carries Tang Sanzang and his three disciples on their journey to the West to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. They travel tens of thousands of miles, encountering all sorts of demons and monsters, beautiful women in disguise, mountains of knives and seas of fire, traps and schemes... Accompanied by the ending theme song of the animated version of Journey to the West, "The White Dragon Horse," Tang Sanzang and his disciples, their faces filled with joy, support each other as they walk towards the spatial gate at the end of the valley. They leave behind this space, which is beautiful to the point of being dreamlike but has left them with the most painful memories, and reappear in the side room.
Back in their rooms, everyone from the all-powerful, iron-skinned Sun Wukong to the delicate-skinned Tang Sanzang collapsed to the ground. They were so exhausted that they didn't even want to move a finger. Zhu Bajie, on the other hand, completely ignored the white dragon horse pressing down on him and was already snoring because they were just too tired.
Three days! In order to successfully pass the test as soon as possible, they struggled in that space for three whole days without sleep. If it weren't for the immortal fruits that restored their strength and spirit during their rest periods, they probably would have collapsed long ago. Because in that space, they could only rely on their physical strength and could not even use a trace of magic power, otherwise they would be struck by heavenly lightning. The advantage was that during these three days, their control over every muscle in their bodies improved by a level, and their mental power also increased significantly. If they were to face their former selves before entering that space, they wouldn't be able to completely overwhelm them, but they wouldn't have to exert too much effort to win.
Of course, such an increase in strength comes at a great cost. They were struck by lightning almost every minute during these three days. In order to pass the test, everyone's body and mind have reached their limits. If this continues for a while, their bodies will collapse, leaving indelible injuries.
After Tang Sanzang and the others fell into a deep sleep, Mo Mo waved his hand and retrieved the crystal ball. The little black dragon and the others, seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, also turned their attention away, but they did not leave. Instead, they ate the snacks in their hands and chatted in twos and threes. Mo Mo did not care about this, but suddenly a light flashed in his hand. At this moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in Tang Sanzang's room suddenly became denser and rushed into their bodies.
The next morning, amidst the chirping of birds outside the window, the door to the room where Tang Sanzang and his companions were staying creaked open. Zhu Bajie, full of energy, led the white dragon horse out of the room and tied it to a tree outside. A little while later, Tang Sanzang and the others also came out one by one, while Sha Wujing carried their luggage on his shoulder. They had been there for more than three days, and now it was time to continue their journey to the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures. However, before leaving, they wanted to visit Mo Mo and his group to thank them in person. Therefore, after Tang Sanzang and the others had all arrived, Zhu Bajie went to find Mo Mo and his group.
When Zhu Bajie arrived at the hall, he found that Mo Mo and the others had already gotten up. After Zhu Bajie explained his purpose, Mo Mo agreed. However, Nuwa and the others did not appear this time, or rather, apart from Mo Mo, the little black dragon and Diao Chan, no one else appeared. Tang Sanzang and the others finally met the Emperor Wangchen, whom they both loved and hated.
There's a saying that goes, "It's better to remember than to meet again." In Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong's minds, a powerful figure like Mo Mo should be an old man with white hair and a youthful face. But to their surprise, the legendary Emperor Wangchen was actually a young man, a young man who looked not much older than Tang Sanzang. Moreover, this young man looked like an ordinary neighbor. They couldn't possibly associate this young man with that powerful figure who could turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist. But the facts were right in front of them, leaving them no choice but to believe it.
Mo Mo had done what he needed to do, so he had no intention of keeping Tang Sanzang and his companions there. Tang Sanzang and his companions also had no intention of staying any longer. Therefore, after expressing their gratitude to Mo Mo, they left. Before leaving, Mo Mo gave them some freshly baked flatbreads as provisions. Shortly after Tang Sanzang and his companions left, Mo Mo and his group also returned to Luojia Mountain.
However, Mo Mo regretted it after returning to Luojia Mountain. After Xiao Shu and the others rearranged the peach grove to make sure no one could spy on them, they completely unleashed their true nature and didn't act like ladies at all. Because the little black dragon had created some modern leisure games such as magic generals, cards, and chess, the peach grove in Mo Mo's place was filled with the sound of rustling every day.
Of course, they weren't just playing around. Each of them possessed considerable cultivation, making it incredibly easy for them to memorize and predict the cards. Moreover, cultivators' deductive reasoning abilities were exceptional. Therefore, there was only one way to win: try to disrupt the opponent's deductions while simultaneously trying to deduce their hand and then calculate how to play to win. If you couldn't interfere with the opponent, it was similar to playing mahjong with your hand in hand. Even so, Mo Mo still couldn't stand it. After all, anyone would find it unbearable to see a group of stunningly beautiful, elegant, and long-haired fairies playing mahjong all day long. So, Mo Mo decided to avoid seeing them and went out to sea to fish in a small wooden boat.
"It's definitely quieter outside, but the sun seems a bit too strong. Let's put some clouds in to block it." And so, several huge white clouds suddenly appeared in the sky above the boundless sea, which was originally cloudless.
Looking at the sun obscured by white clouds, Mo Mo sat contentedly on the wooden boat and continued fishing. He would occasionally pick up the wine cup next to him and take a sip of the immortal wine in the pot, feeling quite relaxed. The warm sea breeze blowing on his face was exceptionally comfortable, making Mo Mo feel drowsy.