Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"Swift Fire Bead!"

Jiang Liu raised his palm, and a fist-sized ball of flame shot out, landing viciously on an upright crocodile.

The flame exploded on the crocodile's body, making it scream in pain.

"Damned Monk! I'll eat you!" Pained, the crocodile's ferocity was further provoked as it let out a roar, holding a cleaver in its hand, and ferociously lunged at Jiang Liu with demonic Qi swirling around it.

Arhat Fist, Demon-Subduing Mantra, and the Strengthening Demon-Subduing Mantra—three buffs that increased Attack Power, along with the amplification from his equipment, made Jiang Liu's strength far from ordinary.

Seeing the crocodile lunge, he was not the least bit intimidated. Raising the mixed iron rod in his hand, he met the crocodile's charge head-on, and the two—man and demon—tangled in a fierce struggle.

The White Dragon Horse lay quietly to one side, waiting, while Sun Wukong leaned against the White Dragon Horse, casually chewing on a small twig, looking utterly relaxed as if oblivious to the battle next to him.

"Monkey Brother, you tell me, our master's killing intent is even greater than ours, right? Along the way, the number of demons that have died at his hand must be at least a hundred, right?"

Zhu Bajie was not as laid back as Sun Wukong, only watching the battle from a distance, speaking with a somewhat odd tone.

Since the fight with the Yellow Wind Monster, and after heading west for another half a month, on the road, whenever they encountered a demon blocking the way or even ordinary ferocious beasts, Jiang Liu would not allow anyone else to take action, always dealing with it by himself.

Moreover, they were lucky enough not to encounter Demon Marshals or the like, so throughout the half-month journey, it didn't seem like the disciples were protecting Tang Monk going to the Western Heaven; rather, it seemed like Tang Monk was taking care of them.

"Master kills to gain enlightenment. The more he kills, the higher his Cultivation Level will be. Rest easy..." Sun Wukong replied, twig in his mouth and legs crossed casually.

Having traveled this way, half a year had passed, and Sun Wukong had witnessed Jiang Liu's growth in Cultivation Level and techniques firsthand.

From the current situation, Sun Wukong knew clearly that as long as they didn't encounter a Demon Marshal, the master could handle almost any situation on his own.

Although the crocodile Demon General looked tough-skinned and indomitable in defense, the mixed iron rod not only added 820 points to Attack Power but also had a 30% Armor Penetration Effect, significantly reducing the Demon General's defensive capabilities.

Casting the Vajra Mantra on himself, Jiang Liu smashed the mixed iron rod onto the crocodile with force, sending it flying.

Similarly, the crocodile's cleaver struck Jiang Liu, but with an 80% damage immunity, along with Jiang Liu's defensive enhancements, the blade struggled to inflict significant damage.

"Water Binding Lock!"

True to its status as a Demon General, it could manipulate demonic power to perform Demon Arts. After being sent flying, the crocodile raised its hand and a stream of water appeared in the void, transforming into chains that entwined Jiang Liu while it turned to flee for its life.

Having fought to this point, the crocodile Demon General knew it was no match for Jiang Liu.

Dispel Curse!

But Jiang Liu reacted reflexively with a Dispel move, breaking free from the constraints.

Seeing that the crocodile's Health Bar above its head had less than 20% left, would Jiang Liu let cooked duck fly away?

He tapped the ground lightly, activating the special effect of the Flashing Brilliance Shoes, and in a flash, he appeared behind the crocodile, reaching out and grabbing towards it.

Sensing Jiang Liu's approach, the crocodile whipped its cleaver backward in defense.

Yet, facing the attack, Jiang Liu remained unfazed, as if it were unseen.

The 80% damage immunity effect of the Vajra Mantra came into play again!

The Chequ Buddha Beads added +1 to the Vajra Mantra's Skill Level, transforming the ability from a one-time damage immunity into two.

Ignoring the cleaver's blow to his body, Jiang Liu's hand grasped the crocodile's head. Immediately, a surge of fierce azure lightning burst forth, engulfing the crocodile's entire body.

Ah!

A shrill scream emitted from the crocodile's mouth, and after Jiang Liu released his grip, the crocodile's body charred black, it fell to the ground lifeless, evidently slain.

In Jiang Liu's eyes, the Health Bar over the crocodile's head emptied as well.

"Indeed, worthy of a skill acquired after the Taoist job change. This Palm Thunder's Attack Power is truly fearsome!" Emptying around 20% of the crocodile's remaining Health Points in one strike, Jiang Liu nodded inwardly.

Palm Thunder: (Middle Level): After gripping the target, it can unleash the power of thunder from the palm, Attack Power +1200+100%, Cooldown Time 60 seconds.

This Palm Thunder was a Skill Book that had dropped together with the Strengthening Demon-Subduing Mantra. Although its use required gripping the target, even if only of Middle Level, it was still much stronger than the Swift Fire Bead of the Great Perfection Level.

The Skill Bookcase could hold three non-profession-specific Skill Books. Now, with the Swift Fire Bead, Sheep Transformation Technique, and Palm Thunder stored inside, the Skill Bookcase's three slots had been filled.

Notification: Successfully slain a target, obtained Experience Points 12500.

After the crocodile Demon General was slain, the system notification rang in Jiang Liu's mind. Nodding in satisfaction, Jiang Liu silently invoked the space of his inventory.

Fighting monsters above one's level, there indeed were potions and two pieces of equipment that burst out, but the quality of the equipment was inferior to what he was already wearing, so he was somewhat disappointed and shook his head.

After checking the contents of his inventory, Jiang Liu casually took out the Mystical Mirror and looked at the Black Bear Demon and the Yellow Wind Monster.

The Black Bear Demon was still on its Black Wind Mountain, debating scriptures and discussing the Dao with Jinchi, living quite a carefree life.

On the other hand, the Yellow Wind Monster was indeed not slacking off, and although Jiang Liu didn't know where it had gone, it was certainly making an effort to search for the whereabouts of chili peppers, which made Jiang Liu nod in satisfaction.

As the battle here ended, Sun Wukong and the others also came over.

Jiang Liu watched for a while, then put away the Mystical Mirror, mounted his horse, and continued on the Journey to the West.

Sitting on the White Dragon Horse, Jiang Liu had sustained some injuries. Looking at his health bar, which had dropped to around seventy percent, Jiang Liu followed up by casting the Guanyin Mantra, restoring 20% of his health, which pretty much healed his wounds.

"My strength, it's really been growing day by day!"

Thinking back to how he had not expended too much effort to slay the Crocodile Demon General, Jiang Liu was quite pleased with himself.

Back when he faced the last trial of his class change quest, a one-on-one fight with a Demon General at level 21, the battle was one of life and death, with Jiang Liu achieving a narrow victory amidst great peril.

Looking at himself now, his level had reached 26, and coupled with the new skills and equipment he had acquired, his overall strength had increased significantly.

Another battle with that Crocodile Demon General was no longer a big deal, and this comparison allowed Jiang Liu to clearly feel the growth in his abilities.

After mounting his horse, Jiang Liu sat on the back of the White Dragon Horse, quietly calculating. Since his level reached 26, he had been cultivating while riding and even when he slept at night. Together with the occasional subduing of demons and elimination of monsters on the road, he had accumulated about 400,000 experience points.

Yet, he still hadn't leveled up.

He remembered clearly that at level 21, consuming a single Spirit Elixir with 500,000 experience points had allowed him to level up twice.

"Indeed, the higher the level, the more experience points needed; similarly, the higher the level, the greater one's cultivation level!"

Thinking that his 400,000 experience points were still not enough for leveling up, Jiang Liu shook his head inwardly with a sense of reflection.

"Master, have you noticed that in these past few days, many of the demon creatures we've encountered were fish or shrimp types of demons?" Jiang Liu was deep in thought when Zhu Bajie beside him suddenly spoke.

"Hmm? That does seem to be the case, could it be that we're nearing the Liusha River?" Upon hearing Zhu Bajie's words, Jiang Liu was slightly moved.

He remembered from the original story that after the Yellow Wind Monster, the plot progression involved recruiting Sha Wujing at the Liusha River, right?

Only with Sha Wujing's recruitment would the Journey to the West team be officially fully formed, wouldn't it?

However, Jiang Liu wasn't particularly looking forward to the character of Sha Wujing.

Firstly, it might be due to the fact that Sha Wujing had such a low presence in the original text, and secondly, could it be because Sha Wujing was the weakest among them?

Of course, there was also the fact that both of his disciples, whether it was Sun Wukong or Zhu Bajie, though verbally enlightened by Guanyin to join the Journey to the West team, didn't actually want to go. Could it be that Sha Wujing would be the same?

Shaking his head, Jiang Liu didn't delve too deeply into this matter. Retracting his thoughts, he continued to cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique.

...

Mount Luojia in the South Sea.

"Amitabha..." Bodhisattva Guanyin softly chanted a Buddha's name, her brows showing a touch of worry.

She had planned everything for the Journey to the West, and naturally had to properly control the eighty-one trials, but having left Chang'an City for so long, one could say that the only trial thus far was at the Guanyin Zen Temple!?

In this way, how long would it take to accumulate the eighty-one trials?

After some thought, Bodhisattva Guanyin summoned Muzha.

"Bodhisattva, what are your orders?" The handsome Muzha approached Bodhisattva Guanyin and asked after paying respects.

"The Scripture Seeker team is almost at the Liusha River. You go to the Liusha River and inform General Juanlian not to be in a hurry to find a master, but to impede them by the river..." Bodhisattva Guanyin instructed.

This statement made Muzha pause for a moment, but he did not ask further questions and simply nodded before leaving.
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Since the Bodhisattva had instructed him so, he would follow her orders accordingly.

"Amitabha, crossing the eight hundred li wide Liusha River without the help of General Juanlian would certainly be difficult; this time, deliberately doing so should add another trial, right?"

Watching Muzha leave, Bodhisattva Guanyin inwardly estimated the potential outcome.