Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Tip: You have gained 92 Experience Points.

Tip: You have gained 92 Experience Points.

Tip: You have gained 92 Experience Points.

...

Jiang Liu sat quietly on his bed, cultivating the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture, gaining 92 Experience Points every 10 seconds, a rate that he found quite satisfying.

Although it still didn't meet the average aptitude requirement for the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture, being able to gain more than 500 Experience Points in one minute wasn't bad at all.

Knock knock knock...

Just as the sky had completely darkened and all was quiet, suddenly, Jiang Liu heard a knocking sound on the door.

Hearing this noise, Jiang Liu felt a surge of surprise in his heart, "Who could be knocking at this late hour?"

Logically speaking, it was akin to 2 in the morning, a time when no one should be active, right?

"Could it be... Demons and ghosts?!" Jiang Liu reflexively speculated in his mind.

With this thought, Jiang Liu's eyes lit up, if it really was a demon, then it was Experience Points delivered to his doorstep.

But, what if it was a ghost?

That thought made a shiver travel down Jiang Liu's spine, knock at the door in the middle of the night?

Rubbing his arms, it seemed as though the air had grown much colder, and he even got goosebumps, the feeling of a ghostly chill in the middle of the night.

Jiang Liu did not want to respond to the knocking, but it seemed like the knocker had no intention to stop.

At this rate, not to mention cultivating, he wouldn't even be able to sleep, would he?

Having no other choice, he took a deep breath, bolstered his courage, and called out, "Who is outside the door?"

"Holy Monk, greetings, I am the Old Turtle from the Tongtian River. I came to knock on your door in the middle of the night to express my gratitude," an elderly voice came from outside the door following Jiang Liu's words.

"The Old Turtle from the Tongtian River?!" hearing this, Jiang Liu's brows furrowed slightly.

From the original story, he knew that there indeed was an Old Turtle in the Tongtian River, but knocking on the door at this late hour, how could Jiang Liu easily believe it?

"You, why do you come to express gratitude in the middle of the night? Why not come during the day!" Jiang Liu asked.

"Holy Monk, the people of Chen Family Village are after all mere mortals, it's not appropriate to reveal my form in front of them! Please open the door, the elderly merely comes to give thanks..." the voice outside responded.

"Since it's to express gratitude, I have already heard you; you can leave now! I accept your thanks!" Jiang Liu really dared not open the door in the middle of the night.

"Holy Monk, besides coming to give thanks, actually, I have a request for you, please open the door and grant me an audience!" the Old Turtle persisted stubbornly, showing no sign of leaving.

"Alright, whatever you want to say, you can ask now just the same!" After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Liu still insisted on not opening the door.

"I wish for you, the Holy Monk, to go to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures and, when you see Buddha Tathagata, ask on my behalf—I have been cultivating in the Tongtian River for thousands of years, when can I become an immortal?"

Seeing Jiang Liu firmly refusing to open the door, the Old Turtle fell silent for a moment, then made his request.

"Indeed it's him..." Hearing the Old Turtle's words, which were no different from the original story, Jiang Liu felt somewhat reassured.

Demons and ghosts, Jiang Liu might just be simply scared of the latter.

Other demons? He viewed them as treasures of Experience Points.

Realizing that the figure outside was not a ghost but truly the Old Turtle from the original story, Jiang Liu's anxiety eased somewhat, and he then walked to the door and unlocked the bolt.

With a creak, the wooden door was opened.

Indeed, standing at the doorway was an old man with a white beard, stooped in posture.

"Character Panel!"

Looking at the aged and bent figure, Jiang Liu silently commanded in his mind, pulling open the other person's Character Panel.

ID: Old Turtle (White)

Gender: Male.

Profession: Demon.

Level: 61.

Equipment: ...

Reviewing the other person's Character Panel, Jiang Liu was inwardly astonished; level 61? Wasn't that already at the Heavenly Immortal Realm? Why then was he asking when he could become immortal?

"Wait a second..." Internal astonishment quickly turning into insight, Jiang Liu had an epiphany.

Looking at the Old Turtle's appearance, level 61 did indeed indicate that he had reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm, but the white Character Panel, coupled with his appearance of being on his last legs, it was clear that his aptitude was not high!

An individual with low aptitude, apparently not having many years left to live, even if he had reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

It seems even the Heavenly Court and the Western Spirit Mountain don't pay much attention, do they?

So, by knocking on my door at midnight and asking me to pass on a message, is he actually hoping I will speak on his behalf so that he can secure an official title?

After all, his status screen already indicates that this Old Turtle has reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm, shedding his mortal coil!

"Amitabha, old sir, why do you need me to convey this matter of your becoming immortal? You may go and ask yourself..." After some thought, Jiang Liu spoke to the Old Turtle.

If we were to use modern vernacular, it would be like a man in his sixties or seventies finally graduating from a prestigious university, and asking me to help him inquire about joining a big company...

While it's true that his academic qualifications are not in question, for someone in his sixties or seventies to have just graduated, naturally companies wouldn't be too keen on hiring him.

He's asking me to inquire for him? Isn't he trying to make use of my name? Jiang Liu naturally was not willing!

"Master, I indeed wish to ask in person, but with my lowly status, I'm not qualified to meet Buddha. Monks have a kind heart, so please, Holy Monk, help me ask! It's just a matter of speaking a few words..." Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, the elderly man shook his head and continued to plead.

"Is it really just a matter of speaking a few words!?" The Old Turtle's remark made Jiang Liu's complexion turn sour.

Monks are kind-hearted, so I must help him? Isn't this moral coercion?

Tang Monk in the original text seems to have fallen for his trick, but I certainly won't fall for it.

Moreover, I can tell from the original text that this Old Turtle doesn't amount to much!

"Amitabha..." Jiang Liu didn't outright reject the Old Turtle's request, but he didn't agree either; he remained silent, waiting.

After waiting for a moment and seeing Jiang Liu unresponsive, unsure if he agreed, the Old Turtle pressed on a bit anxiously, "Holy Monk, is this your tacit consent?"

"Old sir, I am powerless to help with this matter..."

Shaking his head, since the other party wouldn't leave and insisted on questioning, Jiang Liu spared no courtesy this time and directly refused him.

"Holy Monk, why are you being so petty!? I just wanted you to deliver a message for me, and you're unwilling!?" Seeing Jiang Liu's straightforward refusal, the Old Turtle's face soured.

From his perspective, the favor he was asking was but a trivial effort, yet Jiang Liu flatly refused him!?

"Please leave!"

There's no use for excessive words when conversation falters; with that, Jiang Liu had nothing more to say and dismissed the visitor.

"Since that's the case, then I shall not bother you anymore!" Seeing that Jiang Liu had issued an eviction order, the Old Turtle's face wore an ugly expression; he remained silent for a moment, then, flicking his sleeves, he turned and left.

"Delusional, aren't you?" Watching the Old Turtle leave with a flick of his sleeve, Jiang Liu silently sneered to himself.

When he needed help, he called me 'Holy Monk,' but once I refused him, he simply refers to me as 'you.'

Besides, isn't it my right to help or not help him?

Showing displeasure with a flick of his sleeve when I refuse to help? With such a temperament, it's a wonder how he's lived for so many years. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Shaking his head, for Jiang Liu, the Old Turtle knocking at midnight was nothing more than a brief interlude. As he left, Jiang Liu closed the door again, sitting cross-legged to continue his cultivation.

If he had not sought trouble, it might have been alright, but if he thought about retaliating just because I refused to help, perhaps I'd need to deal with him.

...

Setting aside what Jiang Liu might be thinking, after being rejected, the Old Turtle left Chen Family Village and went back to the Tongtian River.

However, unlike his arrival, his heart was filled with rage on the way back.

Initially, the Old Turtle thought the Holy Monk of Great Tang liked helping others; therefore, by merely asking for a favor to pass on a message, which was effortless, he would surely agree.

But he didn't expect to be refused!

"Has the Heavenly Court and Western Spirit Mountain gone blind!?" The more he thought about it, the more furious he became, even thinking that the Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain had lost their sight.

He had cultivated to the realm of a Heavenly Immortal, and yet, for so long, neither the Heavenly Court nor the Western Spirit Mountain had summoned him!

Originally, if the Holy Monk of Great Tang had spoken to Tathagata on his behalf, with his own cultivation level at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, obtaining an Arhat title in the Spirit Mountain might not be too difficult.

But he was rejected as well!

"Hmph, if you were willing to help me, it would have been a joyous event for all, but if you refuse to help, I'd like to see how you'll cross this Tongtian River..." Growing more enraged as he thought about it, the Old Turtle sneered, a malicious intent forming in his heart.

That Carp Demon under King Linggan was more formidable than himself, yet was vanquished by the Holy Monk of Great Tang and his companions, so the Old Turtle knew he was no match.

But as the saying goes, even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local serpent; this Tongtian River was his home ground. They wanted to cross the river? Wasn't it up to him to decide whether they could?

It seemed that they needed a taste of hardship, so that later he could bring up the matter again as a bargaining chip!

In the following days, Jiang Liu and his companions stayed in Chen Family Village, which truly celebrated for seven full days.

During these days, Jiang Liu kept on raiding dungeons, practicing life skills, and with the cultivation of the Green Lotus Taoist Scripture, his growth was remarkably fast.

In just seven days, he gained over 20 million Experience Points, inching ever closer to level 55.

With the seven-day celebration concluded, Chen Family Village arranged several fishing boats to help Jiang Liu and his companions cross the river...