Inside the carriage, two people sat facing each other.
One of them was dressed in a black dragon robe and wore a twelve-tassel crown; he was none other than Wang Mang, the emperor of the Xin Dynasty.
The other person was still dressed in a blue Taoist robe, with his long hair tied up in a bun and adorned with a jade hairpin, looking extremely casual. It was Xiao Ning.
"Master Xiao, we've arrived at Lingchuan!"
Wang Mang lifted the curtain and glanced outside, then spoke softly to Xiao Ning.
"Oh? We've finally arrived?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning opened his closed eyes and slowly spoke.
A short while later, the imperial carriage stopped, and an attendant outside reported: "Your Majesty, Imperial Tutor, the magistrate of Lingchuan, along with local villagers, is requesting an audience!"
"I won't see him. Let him go back and do his job well. I don't want to disturb the local area. I'm just going to Lingchuan County for a short rest, and I'll leave soon!"
Wang Mang glanced at Xiao Ning, and seeing that he made no response, he spoke up and gave instructions to the eunuch.
"promise!"
The eunuch acknowledged and withdrew.
As expected, the emperor's entourage stopped in Lingchuan County for a while, and after obtaining what they needed, they immediately left the county.
The group, in a grand procession, headed straight for the eastern outskirts of the county, where the strange mountain resembling five fingers was located.
"Wang Mang, are you ready?"
The carriage swayed and bounced, like riding a rocking horse, but Xiao Ning, sitting in the carriage, remained as steady as Mount Tai. He suddenly asked a question.
Wang Mang, who was sitting opposite him and resting with his eyes closed, quickly replied respectfully upon hearing this: "With Master Xiao by my side, I dare to give it a try. If I succeed, all will be well; if I fail, there will be no great loss!"
At this time, five years had passed since the Battle of Kunyang. Wang Mang, now thirty years younger, displayed his talents and, with the help of Xiao Ning, repeatedly defeated domestic rebels, recovered lost territories, and reunified the land.
Wang Mang, who ruled the world and held immense power, was full of vigor and ambition.
"Success or failure hinges on this! You are the victim, so it's only right that you seek justice from the monkey. We're not afraid, even if we take the case all the way to the Heavenly Palace!"
Xiao Ning smiled, clearly having high hopes for the trip.
After unifying the country, Wang Mang brought up the old matter again, wanting to pursue cultivation. However, the country was still not at peace and was still in turmoil, so Xiao Ning naturally would not allow it.
Later, seeing that Wang Mang was so focused on spiritual cultivation that he neglected even political affairs, it became clear that this couldn't continue.
Xiao Ning had no choice but to give him a terrible idea: go and settle accounts with Sun Wukong!
Let's take stock of the 400,000 troops that Wang Mang lost during the Battle of Kunyang!
Then, Wang Mang, impatient, led 50,000 imperial guards straight to Wuxing Mountain.
After walking for a while, the group finally came into view a mountain that was over a thousand feet high, shaped like five fingers, and had a majestic and extraordinary presence.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Wuzhi Mountain!"
The eunuch respectfully reported this.
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang quickly lifted the curtain and climbed out of the carriage. Xiao Ning shook his head and followed him down from the imperial carriage.
After taking a few steps, I arrived at the foot of the mountain. Looking up at the giant mountain in front of me, I could clearly see a talisman exuding a mysterious and unpredictable aura firmly affixed to the mountain peak.
"Master Xiao, where is that monkey?"
Wang Mang had an eager look on his face, impatient to find Sun Wukong.
Upon arriving at this place, Xiao Ning dared not use his divine sense at all, and instead tried his best to use the Breath Concealment Technique to hide his aura.
After all, this place isn't unattended!
It should be noted that the Buddha was not someone to be trifled with. Not content with simply suppressing the monkey, he sent a local deity, along with the Five Directions Protectors, to reside together under the Five Elements Mountain to guard Sun Wukong.
When he is hungry, feed him some iron pellets;
When he is thirsty, feed him some molten copper to drink.
Wow, that was awful!
Moreover, this barrier remained closed for a full 600 years.
Xiao Ning remembered that the original novel said that the Five Elements Mountain descended from the sky to the human world when Wang Mang usurped the Han throne.
According to the timeline, the Monkey King was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain by Buddha in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang (23 AD), and was not freed by Tang Sanzang until the thirteenth year of the reign of Emperor Zhenguan of Tang (627 AD).
No wonder he couldn't even defeat some minor demons on his journey to the West, completely lacking the imposing presence he displayed when he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace.
Having consumed copper molten iron pills for six hundred years, even if a monkey had high cultivation, profound magical power, and great supernatural abilities, it would be practically crippled.
What a poor child!
Such an experience instilled in Xiao Ning a deep fear of Buddha.
He didn't want to expose himself to the eyes of all the gods and Buddhas before he had fully developed his strength.
Therefore, it's better to keep a low profile.
"I don't know either. Let the soldiers search for it!"
Xiao Ning gave Wang Mang a wink, and shook his head in response.