Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

With no lingering hesitations, the White Dragon Horse galloped swiftly, and in just under half an hour, Jiang Liu and his companions had already crossed Foutu Mountain and advanced over a hundred miles.

Looking back, Jiang Liu glanced at Foutu Mountain, now far in the distance, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Overall, the encounter with Master Wuchao on Foutu Mountain could be considered a close call without real danger.

Indeed, there was no danger, but the shock—Jiang Liu was nearly scared to death.

It was not merely because of Master Wuchao's strength but more so because of his words and his identity.

Sitting on the back of the White Dragon Horse, having left Foutu Mountain far behind, Jiang Liu's heart finally began to calm, his head bowed in deep contemplation.

Having arrived in the world of Journey to the West, it had been almost half a year altogether. Initially, he thought he had merely traversed to the Tang Dynasty, but as the Incense Offering Ceremony unfolded, Jiang Liu realized this world also contained demons and cultivators.

It was only after the Great Buddha Temple's Incense Offering, where he was given the name Xuanzang, that he suddenly woke up to the fact that he was in the world of Journey to the West.

However, today's encounter with Master Wuchao made Jiang Liu question if the world of Journey to the West was just that?

This world, was it also connected to the world of Investiture of the Gods!?

Who was Master Wuchao? He took out a gourd, bowed to it, and uttered, "Please turn around, my treasure." Did his identity still need consideration? Wasn't he Taoist Lu Ya?

And Taoist Lu Ya was a character from the Deification Story, wasn't he?

The waters of Journey to the West were already deep, but now, from Master Wuchao, more accurately from Taoist Lu Ya, Jiang Liu gleaned that this world was connected with that of the Investiture of the Gods, making him even more alarmed at the profound depths of this world, more terrifying than he had believed.

Thinking of the world of the Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Liu felt a chill all over. It was a world where Taiyi walked everywhere, and Heavenly Immortals were less valued than dogs.

In just the world of Journey to the West, the Great Jade Emperor and Tathagata were certainly the top ultimate bosses, but if this world was the same as that of the Investiture of the Gods, then Tathagata and the Great Jade Emperor could only be considered second-tier, right?

Jiang Liu wouldn't forget that the world of the Investiture of the Gods had Saints, and above the Saints was Hongjun Ancestor…

It was terrifying. Having stayed in the world of Journey to the West for less than a year, Jiang Liu found that the more he knew, the deeper and more formidable this world appeared.

"Hey, Master, what are you thinking about? Who exactly was that old fellow just now? You seem to be in such a state for the first time!"

Jiang Liu, lost in his thoughts with his head bowed, was approached by Sun Wukong, who couldn't resist his curiosity and asked.

Having been together with Jiang Liu for almost half a year, Sun Wukong had come to understand him somewhat—this was the man who even dared to scheme against Bodhisattva Guanyin, yet, could that old man earlier have scared him into running that fast?

Ever since they left the Five Elements Mountain, their pace had lingered, but the distance they covered in this half hour today was equivalent to several normal days, wasn't it?

At Sun Wukong's question, Jiang Liu shook his head, preferring not to say more.

However, aside from the implications of Lu Ya's identity, what Jiang Liu was more concerned about were his words, which vaguely seemed to suggest he knew Jiang Liu's purpose?

It seemed that Jiang Liu would have to thoroughly investigate in the future to see whether Guanyin and the others knew his purpose. Read latest chapters at empire

Otherwise, it felt like there was forever a thorn in his heart.

Panting… panting…

Though he hadn't complained any, having run behind the White Dragon Horse for so long, Zhu Bajie was now breathing heavily, quite far from Foutu Mountain. Panting deeply, he said, "Master… Master… I, Old Pig, can't run anymore… Shall we rest a bit?"

"Eh!?" Jiang Liu turned to look at Zhu Bajie, then at the scenery swiftly receding around them, and suddenly realized, was the White Dragon Horse running that fast?

The distance covered in the blink of an eye was vast.

"Stop, stop, stop, let's stop and rest properly!" Now far from Foutu Mountain and seeing the White Dragon Horse running very swiftly, Jiang Liu urgently spoke.

Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the White Dragon Horse naturally hurried to a stop.

"Indeed, the Master really does like me!" Pretending to be out of breath and unable to run further, the Master urgently asked to stop, which made Zhu Bajie glance at Sun Wukong with a smug look.

However, Sun Wukong's mind was still focused on the fight with Master Wuchao earlier and had no interest in heeding Zhu Bajie's pride.

"Big brother, we are all quite tired, let's rest together!"

Seeing that Sun Wukong wasn't paying attention to him, Zhu Bajie wouldn't just give up and took the initiative to speak, reminding Sun Wukong.

"Hmm, rest, rest..." However, Sun Wukong still seemed too lazy to pay him any mind, pondering over his own issues.

Firstly, there was the strength of Master Wuchao. Now that he had calmed down, Sun Wukong had to admit that the old Zen Master's methods indeed surpassed his own, especially the golden flames, which were comparable to the Supreme Elder Lord's Samadhi True Fire.

Moreover, there were his master's supernatural powers. At that moment, he could clearly feel his strength had increased significantly. The fact that his master's powers could increase his own by so much was truly alarming.

Then there was the defense method. He had been destined either for death or severe injury by the terrifying flames, yet he had only sustained moderate injuries.

Though his cultivation level was low, his master's methods were indeed startling.

"Hey, Monkey, haven't I been telling you not to be impulsive? If it weren't for the old Zen Master's restraint, none of us would have had the ability to leave Foutu Mountain!"

Sun Wukong completely ignored his own intentions, making Zhu Bajie feel as though he was punching cotton. After a moment's thought, he once again voiced his complaints to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong ignored his intentions, but as Zhu Bajie spoke, Jiang Liu looked up at him...

Ordinarily, no matter how much the two brothers argued, Jiang Liu never interfered, perhaps this was their own peculiar way of expressing their feelings?

Yet today, facing Master Wuchao, he himself had called the rain, and Sun Wukong was the first to jump out, while Zhu Bajie couldn't even be called into action.

When compared, Jiang Liu's feelings could be imagined.

"It seems Zhu Bajie always thought he was much loved, hence a bit arrogant, huh?"

Although he knew that Zhu Bajie did nothing wrong, and all together they were no match for Master Wuchao, rationally understanding it was one thing, yet the emotional irritation was another matter.

What's more, why was Zhu Bajie looking so smug in front of Sun Wukong?

"Wukong, it's getting a bit late, go hunt a wild boar!" Jiang Liu spoke to Sun Wukong.

"Alright, Master!"

While Sun Wukong ignored Zhu Bajie's words, he naturally responded differently to Jiang Liu's words; Sun Wukong nodded vigorously, joy written all over his face, and with a leap, he disappeared into the horizon to hunt.

Whether it was because of his disagreements with Zhu Bajie, or because when he was first pinned under the Five Elements Mountain by Jiang Liu, the first meal he was offered was pork, all along the journey, if there was any meat Sun Wukong loved most, it was pork.

Zhu Bajie: "..."

…

Leaving Jiang Liu and his company aside for now, at the peak of Foutu Mountain, for Master Wuchao, their passing seemed merely a minor episode.

After they had left, Master Wuchao sat cross-legged in his nest, quietly cultivating.

But in just a short while, one could hear the sound of Zen harmonies in the void, a sight of blossoms showering from the sky.

Master Wuchao opened his eyes, and with a calm expression, said, "What grandeur, such phenomena accompanying your arrival are truly enviable!"

"Amitabha, dear Taoist friend, do not tease this poor monk!"

Following Master Wuchao's words, the Twelve-Rank Lotus Platform appeared, and Tathagata, sitting calmly on the platform, quietly looked at Master Wuchao in front of him, neither sad nor happy.

"Taoist friend? You have abandoned the Tao for Buddhism, how are you still entitled to call out this title? As the ruler of the Buddhist Realm, you do not visit without reason. What brings you to my Foutu Mountain today? Speak plainly..." A hint of sarcasm flashed across Master Wuchao's face.

Tathagata's expression remained calm, and he did not get angry. Instead, glancing at the Fusang Tree under Master Wuchao, he said, "It's been many years, you seem quite at ease; nurturing the Fusang Divine Tree must have cost you a lot of energy, hasn't it?"

"We have no relationship to speak of, so there's no need for reminiscing!"

Although Tathagata remained calm, Master Wuchao's expression grew even colder. He paused slightly, then counter-asked, "The Scripture Seeker is crucial for your Buddhism, yet all I did was play along with a junior. Do you personally descend just to accuse me?"

"Far from it, you exaggerate!" Hearing Master Wuchao's words, Tathagata shook his head, and said, "I'm just curious about you, you've stayed out of the affairs of the three realms for many years. Many juniors have even forgotten you exist, so why do you care so much about the Scripture Seeker?"

"It's just a whim, why not? Although your Buddhism is powerful, trying to control me is rather arrogant, don't you think?" Master Wuchao counter-asked, his aura fiery yet his gaze as cold as ice.

Bowing his head, Tathagata kept a calm facade, but he murmured:

"A whim, was it necessary to bring out your Treasure Gourd? Sun Wukong is undoubtedly strong, but to make you take out the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife is unlikely, right? I haven't seen you use it for nearly two thousand years. Today, did you bring out this treasure just to play with a junior?"