《Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything》


 Chapter 1 Incense Offering Ceremony

    "Jiang Liu, this is a handful of coarse salt. Your task tonight is to purify it into table salt. Since your dad asked you to learn cooking from me, you should start with the seasonings. I don''t care how those restaurants outside attract customers.


    I''m telling you, only third-rate chefs use a mess of spices; first-rate top chefs use just salt..." a tall man said, dressed in a spotless chef''s uniform and wearing a tall chef''s hat, his expression stern.


    "The process from coarse salt to table salt involves purification and filtering impurities..." In front of the boyy items such as filter paper, beakers, and ss cups, while he held a smartphone in his hands, searching for information he needed. Just then, a voice message came through: "Brother Liu, hurry and log in. Tonight we''re taking on the ultimate BOSS, Demon King Ox.


    We can''t do it without you."


    In a dimly lit inte caf¨¦, three empty mineral water bottles sat on the table. The youth''s eyes were bloodshot, yet he was excitedly fixated on theputer screen, watching the game''s big BOSS''s health bar nearly depleted, feeling incredibly thrilled.


    Finally, when the BOSS fell, countless rays of light scattered in all directions. The boy''s tense nerves suddenly rxed, his vision darkened, and he lost consciousness.


    ...


    Cock-a-doodle-doo!


    Half-asleep, the faint sound of a rooster crowing reached him, and Jiang Liu slowly opened his eyes and sat up.


    His gaze swept past the window, taking in the still dim scenery outside. He could vaguely make out the outlines of mountains and trees and sighed to himself: Has I been in this world for almost half a month already, still hoping to wake up back in the modern era?


    Groping in the dark, he lit an oilmp, the faint light barely dispelling the gloom in the Zen room.


    By the light of themp, he could see everything in the Zen room was quite simple: a bed made of nks, shortened by a stone under one end, a table, and apletely unattractive stool woven from bamboo...


    He picked up a light gray, worn monk''s robe from the head of the bed, put it on, took some snow-white salt from a y jar under the bed, and added it to a bamboo cup to rinse his mouth with the saltwater.


    There was no helping it. In this world, there were neither toothpaste nor toothbrushes avable, so he had to make do with salt water for oral hygiene.


    He had been just a chef apprentice back home, dragged into ate-night gaming session at a caf¨¦ by a friend, and unexpectedly, after a nightlong battle, when he opened his eyes again, he found himself here.


    Having been in this world for nearly half a month, although it was hard to ept at first, the days had calmed down since. Now, Jiang Liu hade to understand the world he was in.


    He was in a ce called Jinshan Temple, a small, rundown temple that had only a few people in total.


    The temple was not popr among devotees, but fortunately, he had started a vegetable garden and a farm, which made them self-sufficient.


    However, going online to y games was out of the question, for he was now in the Tang Dynasty, and the Emperor was none other than Li Shimin.


    Of course, if he could live for another thousand years, perhaps he''d see the dawn of the inte era?


    Shaking his head, he gargled a few times and spit out thest mouthful of saltwater. Jiang Liu collected his scattered thoughts, went to the kitchen, and took out the dough he had prepared the night before, stuffing it with chives and slowly steaming it in a pot.


    Then, he painstakingly set up a stone mill and began to carefully grind the soybeans that had been soaked all night...


    After his unexpected arrival at Jinshan Temple, his identity was that of a novice monk doing odd jobs, and managing the temple''s meals was his duty.


    Although back in the modern world he was just a chef apprentice, his cooking skills were considered excellent for this era.


    For instance, the oilmp in the Zen room was a reward from the old abbot for the recent tasty meals, something that no one else in the temple, aside from the abbot and himself, had.


    Thump... thump... thump...


    After a busy hour or so, the other monks in the temple had also woken up.


    When the ancient bell of the temple was struck, it was fully daylight, and the distant sound of the bell carried far and wide.


    The bell signaled the official start of the day''s activities in the temple: morning prayers, breakfast, and then farming.


    Unlike the monks depicted on television who seemed only responsible for chanting scriptures and weing worshippers, the monks in the temple also had to farm to support themselves, at least in this dpidated Jinshan Temple that had been crossed over to.


    At the foot of Jinshan Temple, there was a small mountain vige, but Jiang Liu had never gone down to it; he could only see it from atop the mountain.


    Every day when the bell rang, the vige below gradually began to stir, as if the bell served as an rm for the vigers.


    Of course, the main purpose of the bell was to announce that Jinshan Temple was now open to receive worshippers.


    Although, it had been a long time since any worshippers hade to the temple...


    Soon, the soy milk was ready, served in five bowls, each containing one bowl of soy milk and two vegetable buns¡ªthis was everyone''s breakfast.


    Shortly, the monks, having finished their morning prayers, gradually gathered.


    Leading them was an old monk with a white beard, who exuded a kind and gentle demeanor; he was Faming, the head of the temple.


    There were also three young monks, all dressed in greyish-white robes patched here and there, plus Jiang Liu, the novice monk, making everyone at Jinshan Temple present.


    "Everyone, please eat," Faming said as he sat down, took a sip of his soy milk, and then the other monks began to eat.


    "Mmm, Liu''er ever since he fell into the water half a month ago, his cooking has been improving day by day. Even these steamed buns taste better than those made in the vige below."


    "I really wish Liu''er would stay in the temple and cook permanently."


    "This soy milk is delicious too; steamed buns with soy milk are truly unmatched."


    ...


    After they began eating, the monks were full of praise for the breakfast Jiang Liu had prepared. Though it was just a simple meal of vegetable buns with soy milk, it tasted much better than before.


    To the monks of Jinshan Temple, the meals in the recent half month had given them a true concept of gourmet food, rather than just sustenance.


    The so-called steamed buns were actually buns; this was how they were referred to during the Tang Dynasty.


    "Buns with soy milk might be a perfect match, but fried dough sticks with soy milk are the real deal. Unfortunately, the current state of Jinshan Temple is so poor, I wouldn''t dare use so much oil to fry dough sticks," Jiang Liu quietly mumbled to himself, hearing the praises of the monks nearby.


    Although, fried dough sticks did not appear until the Song Dynasty.


    "Enough talk, more words would lead to fatigue. Eat without speaking, sleep without talking," Abbot Faming looked at everyone, silencing them.


    After leisurely finishing his breakfast, Senior Abbot Faming set down his empty bowl and turned his gaze toward Jiang Liu.


    "Liu''er, you turned fifteen this year, right?".


    "Yes, Abbot, I turned fifteen this year," not understanding why the Abbot suddenly mentioned his age, Jiang Liu still nodded.


    "Hmm, fifteen is the age for tying the hair knot in ordinary families. ording to the rules, you should participate in the Incense Offering Ceremony. In half a month, it will be the annual Incense Offering Ceremony at the Great Buddha Temple. Have Senior Brother Xuankong apany you then."

 Chapter 2 Slaying Monsters and Looting

    "The Incense Offering Ceremony?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu''s inquisitive eyes turned to Senior Abbot Faming, not understanding what the so-called Incense Offering Ceremony meant.


    "It seems that the drowning incident really caused you to lose your memories; indeed, you have forgotten many things."


    Responding to Jiang Liu''s searching gaze, Senior Abbot Faming sighed softly, going on to exin, "A novice monk like you cannot be considered a part of the Buddhist Sect, as you have not undergone the Incense Offering Ceremony. Only afterpleting the Incense Scar Initiation can you be counted as a true member of the Buddhist Sect."


    "Ah?" Jiang Liu internally rejected the words of Senior Abbot Faming.


    Having been transported to this world, he found himself in Jinshan Temple without a choice. Lacking understanding of this world and having nowhere else to go, he had temporarily decided to stay.


    Hearing about receiving incense burns to be a real monk naturally made Jiang Liu resistant.


    Firstly, without any reason, who would want to be a monk? Monks can''t eat meat or drink alcohol, can''t get married¡ªthis is nothing like the professionalization of monastic life seen in modern times.


    Secondly, he feared pain!


    Yes, the thought of burning incense scarring several marks into his head was terrifying just to contemte.


    Of course, despite his reluctance, Jiang Liu didn''t show it outwardly; instead, he secretly pondered whether he should take the opportunity to sneak away from the temple.


    With his culinary skills, entering Chang''an City some twenty or thirty miles away and finding a job in a tavern surely would sustain him, right?


    After saving some money, he could even start his own restaurant, marry a wife¡ªdefinitely ascending to the peak of life.


    "Liu''er, I hope you, you can seed in the Incense Offering Ceremony and decide to stay¡­" Just as Jiang Liu''s mind wandered and yearned for a different life, suddenly, a short and chubby monk beside him said in a low voice.


    "Ah? Can someone fail the Incense Offering Ceremony?" This question interrupted Jiang Liu''s thoughts, and he turned his head, looking at his Senior Brother Xuanming with surprised uncertainty.


    "Have you really forgotten everything?"


    This expression from Jiang Liu left Xuanming startled for a moment, and then he whispered in exnation, "The Buddha said that all living beings are equal, but the Buddha only ferries those with destiny. Only those who are predestined with the Buddha can seed in the Incense Offering Ceremony and be true monks; otherwise, they won''t even get a single incense scar and will have to leave.


    The food you make is very tasty, I would indeed miss it if you left."


    "It''s true, our Buddhist Sect values the principle of destiny. The deeper one''s connection with the Buddhist Sect, the more incense scars one can receive. Over the past decade or so, Jinshan Temple has seen dozens of novice monkse and go, but in the end, only the three of us remained," added another monk, Senior Brother Xuankong, with a robust body, speaking in a simrly quiet voice.


    As he spoke, he purposefully pointed to his own head.


    In Jinshan Temple, aside from Senior Abbot Faming with his two incense scars, the other three younger monks each bore a single incense scar on their heads.


    Although Jiang Liu had noticed the presence of scars on the monks'' heads during these days, he hadn''t thought much about it.


    He never imagined that they held such significance.


    "What kind of world is this, exactly?" Now aware of the Incense Offering Ceremony, Jiang Liu was utterly bewildered.


    Ever since he learned he was in the Tang Dynasty with Emperor Li Shimin, Jiang Liu had thought he had simply traveled through time to an era of the Tang Dynasty.


    Yet, after learning about the Incense Offering Ceremony, Jiang Liu realized this version of the Tang Dynasty might not be the one from the history of his original world?


    The Incense Offering Ceremony, the monks getting incense scars, Jiang Liu knew about it.


    But the fact that some people couldn''t receive them, and using the number of incense scars to judge the depth of one''s connection with the Buddhist Sect¡­


    Isn''t that a bit too fantastical?


    Jiang Liu was stunned by this fantastical turn of events, and the monks beside him thought he was worried upon suddenly hearing the news.


    Senior Abbot Faming spoke up, "Liu''er, if you can''t get through the Incense Offering Ceremony, you should also pack up your things and leave the mountain. Fortunately, you have some skills in the kitchen, and I believe you would be able to make ends meet once you''ve left the mountain."


    Having said this, the senior abbot uttered a low Buddhist chant and stood up to return to the Zen Room to recite scriptures.


    Several senior brothers came forward tofort Jiang Liu after seeing his expression.


    However, his mind was somewhat disordered at this time, and Jiang Liu only managed to respond with a few half-hearted sentences.


    Seeing Jiang Liu''s demeanor, the senior brothers understood that he needed some time to digest this matter, so they dispersed.


    After everyone had left, Jiang Liu got up, tidied up the bowls, and was filled with countless thoughts.


    In fact, not being able to be a monk actually filled Jiang Liu''s heart with joy.


    What was so good about being a monk? There were so many rules and precepts, and Jiang Liu had already considered, when the time was right, he would leave the mountain to make a living.


    Just as the senior abbot had said, his kitchen skills were not bad, and he had even secretly contemted whether to run away from the mountain


    However, after learning about the Incense Scar Initiation, Jiang Liu felt that he should witness it himself.


    An incense scar that couldn''t be lit? Such a fantastical scene, he should see it with his own eyes.


    As for his destiny with the Buddhist Sect? Jiang Liu was clear that he would most likely not be able to light the incense scar, considering he had no devotion to Buddha.


    More importantly, as someone who had crossed over from modern society, he was an outsider to this world, and naturally, he would have no fate with the Buddhism of this world.


    Moreover, from what he had heard from his senior brothers, the elimination rate for the Incense Offering Ceremony was well over ny percent.


    "Hmm, if I think about it, it seems pretty good, doesn''t it? If I can''t light the incense scar, I''ll have a legitimate reason to leave the mountain," Jiang Liu mused for a moment, then nodded, putting the matter to the back of his mind for now.


    Before long, Jiang Liu had finished the cleaning work in the kitchen and stepped outside to look around.


    The senior abbot was reciting scriptures in the Zen Room, Senior Brother Xuankong and Senior Brother Xuanwu were busy in the fields and vegetable garden, while the plump Senior Brother Xuanmingy in the main hall acting as the Reception Monk, waiting for pilgrims toe to the temple.


    Though it was normal for Jinshan Temple to go several days without any pilgrims.


    After looking around and seeing there was nothing else for him to do, Jiang Liu returned to the kitchen, picked up a kitchen knife, and turned to head towards the back mountain of Jinshan Temple.


    At 15, it was the peak time for growth, and a vegetarian diet every day at Jinshan Temple just wouldn''t do. Jiang Liu wanted to go to the back mountain to see if he could improve their meals.


    He had never intended to be a monk and abide by all the strict precepts, and now that he knew about the fantastical test of the Incense Offering Ceremony and was one hundred percent certain that he wouldn''t pass, he felt even less guilt about breaking the rules.


    Besides, as of now, he wasn''t technically a disciple of the Buddhist sect, right?


    When he arrived at the back mountain, he checked several small traps he had prepared earlier, and finally, his eyes lit up when he saw a white rabbit caught in one of his homemade snares.


    Without much hesitation, Jiang Liu picked up the kitchen knife and swiftly gutted the rabbit.


    Ding, you''ve earned Experience Points 1, you''ve earned 1 copper coin.


    However, as Jiang Liu killed the rabbit, a prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.

 Chapter 3 The Girl Gaoyang

    The sudden prompt that appeared in Jiang Liu''s mind left him stunned.


    Had he actually gained experience points for killing the small rabbit? Did he just imagine things?


    However, as Jiang Liu looked down and noticed a copper coin next to the rabbit, he was certain he had not been hallucinating.


    Besides gaining experience points, he had also received a bit of money¡ªwere these the items usually dropped after defeating monsters?


    In modern society, the concept of traveling through time was a popr theme in novels, movies, TV shows, and even animations. Therefore, when Jiang Liu found himself in the Tang Dynasty, he took some time but was eventually able to ept it.


    Naturally, ording to the routine of novels, one typically received a "Golden Finger" after time traveling.


    However, having been in this world for almost half a month without any sign, Jiang Liu had thought hecked a Golden Finger.


    Now, it appeared he did have one.


    "When I initially traveled through time, I was ying a game in an inte cafe, so, does the Golden Finger I received give me abilities simr to those in a game? Like defeating monsters to level up?"


    Picking up a copper coin from beside the rabbit, Jiang Liu started to form a rough idea of his abilities.


    It was forbidden to kill living beings in the temple. No wonder he had not triggered the ability to upgrade by defeating monsters in nearly half a month.


    Although his mind was flooded with thoughts, Jiang Liu''s hands did not stop. He quickly dealt with the snow-white rabbit, spread his own prepared sauce on it, lit a bonfire, and began to barbecue the meat. He rotated it slowly on a wooden stick to evenly cook the rabbit meat.


    Having arrived in the world of the Great Tang, regardless of whether this Tang Dynasty was the same as the one in his original timeline''s history, at least after arriving in this world and gaining a Golden Finger, he had a means to establish himself.


    However, the Golden Finger he possessed operated like a gaming system that required defeating monsters to be powerful.


    Thus, was he really not suited to remain in the Buddhist Sect?


    "Hmm, there''s about half a month left until the so-called Incense Offering Ceremony. I''ve experienced a timeline shift and the gaming system''s Golden Finger has appeared. Perhaps, this world truly is a fantastical one? I must check it out. After all, if I fail the Incense Offering Ceremony and then leave the monastery, it will all be justified¡­"


    Holding a stick in one hand and fiddling with the copper coin that had just dropped in the other, Jiang Liu quietly nned his future path.


    "Wow, you, Little Monk, dare to break your vows and secretly eat meat..."


    Just as Jiang Liu was deeply immersed in his thoughts and contemting his future path, suddenly, a crisp shout startled him.


    Turning towards the voice, Jiang Liu saw a youngdy quickly striding towards him, her demeanor aggressive as if she were chasing a thief.


    Looking at the youngdy, who appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a delicate face, dressed in a snug gown and dainty deerhide boots, and with a long leather whip coiled at her waist, she exuded the air of a heroine, dressed as if she were ready for adventure.


    "You, Little Monk? You''ve been caught breaking your vows and you''re not running away?" the youngdy approached Jiang Liu, her face showing surprise as he just stared back at her without even trying to get up.


    "I think you''re trying to scare me away so you can enjoy my roasted rabbit," Jiang Liu responded, not very pleased.


    A sh of embarrassment crossed the youngdy''s face when she realized her little scheme had been seen through.


    Yet, despite feeling embarrassed, the youngdy did not back down. She retorted, "You, Little Monk, sneaking around breaking vows by eating meat, and you still argue? Which temple''s Little Monk are you? Don''t believe I will go right now andin to your superior."


    "Sorry, I am still just a Novice Monk, not truly a monk yet," replied Jiang Liu unapologetically.


    The youngdy was momentarily speechless, nced at Jiang Liu''s bald head which indeed didn''t bear any ceremonial scars, then huffed and said, "With your behavior, you''re definitely going to fail the Incense Offering Ceremony."


    "Thank you for your concern," Jiang Liu replied nonchntly.


    He had never truly thought he would pass the Incense Offering Ceremony, nor had he considered bing a monk.


    Seeing Jiang Liu''s indifferent expression as if he were a pig not afraid of boiling water, the young girl felt angry yet helpless.


    Just then, her stomach growled loudly, causing her pretty face to flush slightly.


    "Well, this rabbit meat is at least two or three pounds. I can''t finish it all by myself. Do you want to share some?" Jiang Liu asked, hearing the girl''s stomach and looking up at her.


    "I won''t eat it. I''ve tasted all sorts of delicacies; why would I eat your crude wild food? I''m going to the Tianran Residence to order a feast of delicacies. It''s the best restaurant in Chang''an City."


    If it had been earlier, the girl thought she might have epted Jiang Liu''s offer gracefully. But now, after being humiliated twice and with her stomach betraying her at such an awkward moment, she felt it would be even more embarrassing to ept.


    Even if she were to eat, the other party should invite her a few more times so that under the guise of politeness, she could reluctantly agree.


    Shrugging his shoulders, Jiang Liu said no more.


    Seeing the girl hungry and knowing he couldn''t finish the entire rabbit himself, he had been willing to share some with her. Since she was ungrateful, Jiang Liu certainly had no intention of persuading her to eat.


    After waiting a moment, Jiang Liu merely mentioned it once and did not continue to invite her after she refused. This caused the young girl to stomp her feet in frustration and turn to leave, feeling extremely annoyed by the young novice monk.


    At this point, the girl was starting to regret her refusal.


    Unfortunately, the words of refusal had already been spoken. To go back on her words now¡ªwould she have no pride left?


    Even if it meant skipping a meal, she absolutely would not eat his rabbit meat!


    However, just a few steps away, the girl''s nose twitched slightly. A strange aroma directly entered her nostrils, causing her leaving steps to halt,


    Half an hourter¡­


    "Delicious."


    The girl sat next to Jiang Liu, with half a piece of rabbit meat lying on arge leaf. She took out a small knife with a purple sandalwood handle and cut the rabbit meat into many small pieces.


    Although she appeared to eat elegantly, she devoured the pieces quickly.


    Compared to the girl, Jiang Liu was a lot less refined and directly bit into the half rabbit he was holding.


    "It''s a pity, even though I ground star anise and cinnamon bark to enhance the vor, barbecued foods without cumin and pepper justck soul," Jiang Liu murmured regretfully, tasting the rabbit meat.


    "Little monk, your cooking skills are truly exquisite. Miss Gao has tasted various delicacies across the entirend, but the vor of this rabbit meat is quite unique," the girl said elegantly yet rapidly eating, finding time to truly praise Jiang Liu.


    In the middle of speaking, the girl formally introduced herself: "Hello, my name is Gaoyang."


    "Miss Gao, hello, my name is Jiang Liu. I am not yet a fully fledged monk, so I do not have a monastic name yet," Jiang Liu responded, ncing at the girl as he introduced himself.


    "You? You probably won''t have a monastic name in this lifetime."


    Though it''s said that one who has been treated kindly is soft-spoken, the straightforward nature of Gaoyang seemed evident as she looked at Jiang Liu holding the half rabbit and doubted his ability to go through the Incense Offering Ceremony.


    Jiang Liu did not mind her words; in fact, he felt a slight thrill inside.


    If he were bound by formal vows, leaving the monkhood would indeed be troublesome.


    "Hmm? Wait a second¡­"


    Right then, Gaoyang''s gaze sharpened as she noticed the white rabbit skin Jiang Liu had pulled off. Her pretty face changed: "Is, is that a snow rabbit?"

 Chapter 4 Are There Demons in This World?

    "Snow Rabbit?" Jiang Liu looked at Gaoyang with a hint of surprise.


    Most wild rabbits are predominantly grayish brown, with pure white ones being rtively rare, but what did she mean by "Snow Rabbit"?


    In modern society, wild beasts with the word "snow" in their names, such as snow rabbits, snow wolves, snow leopards, and so on, generally live in the cold regions of ice and snow, don''t they?


    The back mountain of Jinshan Temple isn''t far from Chang''an City; how could there be snow rabbits there?


    Surely, not every white rabbit can be called a snow rabbit, right?


    "Don''t you know? Near Chang''an City, there is only one group of snow rabbits, ruled by the Demon Marshal Shuangxue," Gaoyang said.


    Gaoyang looked at Jiang Liu curiously. Normally, as a monk, one would be aware of suchmon knowledge, right?


    "Demon Marshal? Are you talking about demons? Are there demons in this world?" Jiang Liu asked in astonishment upon hearing this.


    Although the Incense Offering Ceremony mentioned by the senior abbot had seemed quite fantastical to Jiang Liu, who thought to witness it for himself when the time came, the sudden knowledge that there were demons in this world still took him by surprise.


    "Which temple''s novice monk are you? How can you not know these things?" Jiang Liu''s startled response made Gaoyang even more perplexed.


    Temples existed not only to serve worshippers but also often had another job: assisting many people in exorcising evil and performing soul liberations.


    How could someone from the temple not know about the existence of demons?


    "This cannot be the Tang Dynasty from history; have Ie to a parallel universe filled with demons and ghosts?" Jiang Liu thought.


    Once Gaoyang confirmed the existence of demons in this world, Jiang Liu became convinced that the Tang Dynasty he was now in was not the familiar one from his own timeline.


    However, upon reflection, it made sense. After all, he had experienced transmigration himself, and moreover, he had brought along a game system that allowed him to level up by fighting monsters.


    Thus, the existence of demons and ghosts in this world seemed quite reasonable, didn''t it?


    "Let''s not talk about this any longer. We should quickly bury this rabbit skin; otherwise, if it''s discovered by other Snow Rabbit n members, it could cause trouble..." Gaoyang said in a hurry, and as they spoke, they dug a hole and buried the snow rabbit''s skin.


    After dealing with it, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang extinguished the campfire, covered it with ayer of old soil, and then left separately.


    The two only exchanged names briefly and didn''t learn much about each other.


    Upon returning after a walk of about half an hour, it was almost noon. Jiang Liu went to the kitchen to wash the rice and start cooking, then went to the vegetable garden to cut a head of cabbage and picked a few leaves of baby bok choy...


    In modern society, a dish of steamed pork with rice flour is savory and popr.


    However, in the temple, one must abstain from meat, so Jiang Liu made some steamed meat powder himself, using rice and spices like five-spice and star anise, to stir-fry with the baby bok choy leaves, which was very tasty and fragrant.


    Cabbage, stir-fried rice flour with baby bok choy, and a vegetarian soup were on the menu. Although the meals were light, Jiang Liu''s cooking brought out a unique vor.


    Before long, Senior Abbot Faming and several fellow monks arrived in session.


    "Mmm, it smells so good..." The somewhat chubby Brother Xuanming, upon walking in, twitched his big nose and couldn''t help but loudly express his admiration.


    Brothers Xuankong and Xuanwu, on the other hand, didn''t speak, but their eyes brightened as they sat down at the dining table.


    After the senior abbot picked up his chopsticks first, the other three monks began to eat heartily.


    As a chef, seeing others enjoy the dishes one cooked was always a matter of great pleasure.


    Seeing how the fellow monks enjoyed the meal, Jiang Liu felt satisfied, and he cherished the remaining half-month left of his life.


    In the dpidated temple, Jiang Liu''s work was that of an odd-job person. Besides working in the kitchen, he asionally swept the main hall; time flew by swiftly.


    By evening, after dinner was prepared, Jiang Liu shelled some beans and soaked them in water to sprout, looking to offer a change of taste for his fellow monks at the temple.


    Thankfully, before his transmigration, his uncles had strict and almost exacting expectations of him concerning anything rted to culinary arts, which Jiang Liu hade to understand.


    To speak of it, sprouting beans wasn''t particrly challenging...


    Once all these chores were taken care of, he took a bath, scrubbing his grey monk''s robe a few times and hanging it to dry, estimating it was probably around 8 in the evening. In this ancient realm with itsck of entertainment, Jiang Liu went to bed early.


    Lying on the hard wooden bed, Jiang Liu held a new copper coin in his hand, his thoughts deep and contemtive.


    This world was a fantasy realm, popted by demons, ghosts, and other creatures, suggesting he needed to be even more cautious.


    However, with a game system at his disposal allowing him to level up by defeating monsters, it represented a path to bing stronger.


    Yet, regarding this leveling up by defeating creatures, where should he go to fight now?


    Was he supposed to brutalize small animals like he had done earlier with the rabbit? If the abbot and his senior brothers knew, they would surely admonish him severely.


    Should he wait until the half-month passed and hepleted the Incense Offering Ceremony before figuring out a n after he returned to secr life?


    "Gaoyang? Who is that girl, and why was she alone in the back mountain? Moreover, considering her attire and the manner in which she dined, she seems toe from a wealthy or noble background."


    Holding the new copper coin, Jiang Liu''s mind was filled with endless thoughts and he drifted off into a drowsy sleep.


    ...


    The night was deep, and all was quiet.


    At the back of Jinshan Temple, amidst the mottled tree shadows, the darkness enveloped everything, with only a few lucky strands of moonlight piercing through the dense leaves to hit the ground.


    Suddenly, in that secluded ce, apletely white rabbit appeared. Considering its size,parable to that of a young wolfhound, it was clearly not an ordinary rabbit.


    In the dim night, one could see an uncanny crimson light shining in the rabbit''s eyes as it sniffed about with its nose twitching slightly.


    After smelling around, it came to a clearing, lightly scratched the earth a few times with its paws, digging it up, and revealing a blood-stained white rabbit pelt underneath.


    Chirp.


    In the silent and gloomy copse, a sharp and piercing cry echoed, sounding like a steel needle being scraped across an iron sheet, its prative noise stark in the quietude.


    ...


    For Jiang Liu, the night passed without incident, and as the cock''s crow heralded dawn, he rolled aroundzily in bed a few times before sitting up.


    He felt somewhat groggy; the previous night''s sleep hadn''t been restful.


    Whether it was learning about the Incense Offering Ceremony, hearing news of the demon, or learning about the ''Golden Finger'' that would enable him to level up by fighting creatures...


    All these revtions had made for a restless and confused night''s sleep for Jiang Liu.


    After yawning, he found his monk''s robe, now dry, outside. Putting it on, Jiang Liu quickly searched and found the new copper coin he had ced under his mattress.


    "Hmm, it''s still here. So I''m not dreaming..." With the copper coin in hand, a smile spread across his face, followed by a kiss before he tucked the coin into his chest.


    After washing up, he kneaded a ball of dough in the kitchen and then headed towards the vegetable garden.


    This morning, he nned to pick some baby bok choy and scallions to cook a pot of bok choy and scallion noodles.


    However, when Jiang Liu reached the vegetable garden, he was utterly dumbfounded.


    The garden was inplete disarray, as if trampled by a dozen wild pigs...

 Chapter 5 Forming a Team

    The vegetable garden of the monastery had been ravaged and destroyed by wild animals, a fact that Jiang Liu naturally reported to Senior Abbot Faming.


    Before breakfast, everyone in Jinshan Temple, including Jiang Liu himself, all five of them went down to see the garden.


    "Could it have been a wild boar?"


    Looking at the chaos in the vegetable garden, the somewhat plump Xuanming spected. Even ordinary wild beasts, merely sneaking in to nibble on some vegetables, wouldn''t destroy the gardenpletely.


    "Amitabha, Xuankong, I leave this matter for you to handle," seeing the disordered state of the garden, Senior Abbot Faming quietly chanted the Buddha''s name before giving the task to the physically robust Xuankong.


    "Master, I understand," said Xuankong, his face showing anger as he nodded firmly.


    Most of the tasks in the monastery''s vegetable garden and farnd were overseen by Senior Brother Xuankong, so much of his efforts were poured into thend. Seeing the garden destroyed, it was natural for Xuankong to be infuriated.


    "Remember, as monks, we must holdpassion in our hearts. If you catch the culprit, just scare it off so it doesn''t dare to return, but do not harm its life," noticing the anger on Xuankong''s face, Senior Abbot Faming reminded him once more.


    Though the situation in the garden did result in some losses, it was merely chaos caused by wild animals. After understanding the situation, everyone returned to the kitchen.


    Each person had arge bowl of noodles with green vegetables and scallions. Even without any other dishes, everyone enjoyed their meal immensely.


    Especially the somewhat overweight Senior Brother Xuanming, who couldn''t resist praising Jiang Liu every time, especially his cooking, which never had a bitter taste.


    At Senior Brother Xuanming''s praise, Jiang Liu merely smiled faintly.


    Havinge to Jinshan Temple, whether due to the limitations of the era or because the temple was too poor, the salt used in the kitchen was very coarse. Though it was sufficient for supplementing dietary salt, it inevitably gave the dishes a bit of a bitter taste.


    Therefore, Jiang Liu procured some equipment and purified the salt used in the kitchen.


    "By the way, master, I need to go down the mountain today. There is unrest at the Esquire Zhang''s residence at the base of the mountain, suspected to be due to lingering lost souls. He has offered two taels of silver for me to recite sutras and perform a ritual..." At the dining table, the usually quiet Senior Brother Xuanwu suddenly spoke up.


    "Oh? Is that so? Then go ande back quickly," hearing this, Senior Abbot Faming''s eyes brightened, and he nodded emphatically.


    Jinshan Temple was indeed too poor. It wasmon to go three to five days without any temple visitors, let alone any incense money donations.


    Performing rituals naturally brought in more than what was donated through incense money. Even if it were just a simple ritual for transcending lost souls.


    "Two taels of silver? Esquire Zhang truly is a wealthy family known in Jinshan Vige at the foot of the mountain. That is one thousand two hundred copper coins! One steamed bun costs two copper coins, six hundred steamed buns¡ªhow many days could I eat with that..." Senior Brother Xuankong murmured, counting on his fingers.


    "All you know is to eat, eat, eat. Get yourself to the Buddha Hall quickly. It has been five days since any temple visitors came," Senior Abbot Faming spoke irritably upon hearing what Xuanming said.


    As the Reception Monk of Jinshan Temple, Xuanming was responsible for weing temple visitors. It wasmon to have no visitors, so he was used to it.


    But today, when Xuanwu had a ritual to perform and could get two taels of silver while Xuanming hadn''t had any visitors in five days, the disparity was clear.


    "Really?" Jiang Liu did not interrupt the conversation between the abbot and his senior brothers, but inside, he was silently contemting.


    Senior Brother Xuanwu was going down the mountain to recite sutras and transcend lost souls. So, were there truly demons, ghosts, and supernatural entities in this world?


    Originally, Jiang Liu was very interested in these fantastical supernatural phenomena and had wanted to go down the mountain to see the world.


    However, thinking of Senior Brother Xuanwu transcending lost souls and dealing with them made Jiang Liu shudder slightly. He immediately shook his head, and the idea vanished.


    "Right, Xuanwu, after you get the silver, remember to buy somemp oil and incense," after chatting for a while, Senior Abbot Faming suddenly reminded him.


    "Also, we are running low on vegetable oil, salt, and soy sauce in the kitchen," Jiang Liu chimed in.


    "My hoe has broken too, junior brother, please buy a new hoe for me on your way," Senior Brother Xuankong quickly added.


    The temple was poverty-stricken, and as soon as they heard about the iing silver coins totaling 1.2 tael, everyone voiced their own needs.


    Xuanwu silently calcted that if they really were to replenish those items, at least half of the silver would be needed, and he shook his head in reluctant resignation.


    After breakfast, their discussions had more or less concluded, leaving only Jiang Liu in the kitchen to wash the dishes, while the other senior brothers each busied themselves with their own tasks.


    Senior Abbot Faming continued his scripture recitation in the Zen Room; Senior Brother Xuanwu tidied up a bit and went down the mountain to perform a ritual; Senior Brother Xuankong took his rest in the vegetable garden.


    As for Senior Brother Xuanming? Well, he was sleeping in the main hall, as the Reception Monk.


    With no pilgrimsing up the mountain to be received, he was the most rxed person in the temple.


    By evening, Xuanwu returned looking a bit weary, bringing back many items, and of course, the remaining five coins of silver.


    An uneventful day passed without any significant happenings, for Jiang Liu, it was just another day closer to his Incense Offering Ceremony and a day closer to renouncing secr life.


    That night, instead of returning to the Zen Room to rest as usual, Senior Brother Xuankong stayed to guard the vegetable garden.


    After washing up, Jiang Liu thought it over, and instead of rushing to sleep, he decided to go over and sit beside Senior Brother Xuankong at the garden.


    He said it was to keep himpany and alleviate his boredom, but in reality, Jiang Liu also wanted to learn as much as possible about the world from him.


    For instance, do demons, ghosts, and goblins really exist?


    Or if there were cultivators and immortals on this...


    "Demons, ghosts, and goblins have always existed; what''s so unusual about that?"


    "Immortals?"


    Upon mentioning this, Senior Brother Xuankong''s expression turned much more serious as he stared intently at Jiang Liu, "Of course, there are immortals and Bodhisattvas. Do you doubt that Bodhisattvas and Buddha are mere illusions? If you harbor such thoughts, you will not pass the Incense Offering Ceremony. Remember this!"


    Seeing Senior Brother Xuankong so serious for the first time, Jiang Liu nodded, preparing to admit his mistake.


    However, before he could speak, Senior Brother Xuankong suddenly covered Jiang Liu''s mouth and made a silencing gesture.


    Rustling...


    In the moonlight, they could see a pristine white rabbit as big as a dog, with eyes red as blood, leaping several feet high, effortlessly jumping over the fence of the vegetable garden and wreaking havoc.


    "What a huge rabbit!" Jiang Liu was secretly astonished upon seeing the rabbit.


    He had never seen nor heard of such arge rabbit before.


    "This white rabbit? Could it be..." As he looked at the unusuallyrge rabbit, thoughts of what the girl Gaoyang had mentioned earlier shed through Jiang Liu''s mind.


    Snow Rabbit n, there are supposed to be demons, and even a so-called Demon Marshal?


    What level of demon a Demon Marshal was, Jiang Liu did not know, but it sounded quite formidable.


    "Such a huge rabbit? It must be enchanted, huh? How dare it disturb the peace of Jinshan Temple!" As he watched the rabbit, big as a dog, destroy the neatly fixed garden, Xuankong showed no fear but was visibly upset.


    As he spoke, Xuankong stood up, a faint golden glow emanating from his palms...


    System prompt: Would you like to form a team? Team target¡ªXuankong.

 Chapter 6 Upgrade Skill Book

    The sudden prompt left Jiang Liu stunned.


    In online games, team modes aremon, and Jiang Liu was well aware of this; however, he hadn''t expected that the game system he acquired after crossing over would also have a team mode.


    Though he was bbergasted, Jiang Liu''s reaction was swift, and he immediately agreed.


    Afterward, Jiang Liu noticed that the world in front of him had suddenly undergone aplete change.


    For instance, in front of him, a small icon perpetually floated in the corner, depicting a person''s face, specifically Senior Brother Xuankong¡ªthis must be the sign of a sessful team formation.


    At the same time, he could see a health bar hovering above both Senior Brother Xuankong''s and the giant snow rabbit''s heads, giving off the impression of being in a 3D game.


    If he hadn''t been in this world for over half a month now, Jiang Liu would doubt whether he was dreaming of ying a game.


    Setting aside Jiang Liu contemting this end-of-the-world team mode and the imagery that suddenly emerged, at that point, Senior Brother Xuankong had already charged at the giant snow rabbit.


    As Senior Brother Xuankong moved, the snow rabbit naturally noticed him.


    Man and rabbit shed, bing embroiled in a tussle.


    The snow rabbit was huge and incredibly strong, unlike any rabbit, and more akin to a fierce tiger.


    And Senior Brother Xuankong? His body was robust, his hands radiating a faint golden glow, his palms seemingly turning to cast iron, formidable and weighty.


    With a kick of its legs, the snow rabbit immediately created a small pit in the ground, flinging soil around.


    Senior Brother Xuankong''s palm strikes left cracks even in stones.


    Jiang Liu was keenly aware that if such power hit him, he would break at least a couple of bones. He was utterly unable to intervene in their struggle.


    Although unable to help, at least his observational skills were sharp. It was apparent that as a herbivore that had attained sentience, the rabbitcked both ws and sharp fangs, resulting in rather weakbat prowess.


    From what he could see, Senior Brother Xuankong did seem to have the upper hand.


    After fighting for a spell, it became clear to the snow rabbit that it was no match for the human and started to think of fleeing.


    "Hmph, thinking of escaping?" Belting out a voice as deep as a temple bell, Senior Brother Xuankong grunted in anger as the snow rabbit turned to flee.


    He stepped rapidly, dirt flying, charging like a wild bull in pursuit.


    "Senior Brother Xuankong, wait, don''t kill it."


    Seeing that the snow rabbit''s health bar was left with only about twenty percent, Jiang Liu yelled out high and loud, aware that the cause of it all was him killing a snow rabbit for its meat and feeling guilty within.


    However, Senior Brother Xuankong paid no heed to Jiang Liu''s shouting, rushing forward andnding a palm directly on the rabbit''s head.


    The snow rabbit fell to the ground, its legs twitching unconsciously a few times before ity still.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, the snow rabbit''s health bar had been emptied.


    Seeing this, Jiang Liu rushed over, looked down at the snow rabbit with aplicated expression, "Senior brother, did you kill it?"


    "No, it has only fainted," said Senior Brother Xuankong as he shook his head, looking at the snow rabbit that had been knocked unconscious.


    In the midst of speaking, he raised his palm again and struck another blow, showing none of the merciful spirit expected of a monk.


    With a smack, the snow rabbit''s head caved in slightly; its skull was crushed, and it was truly dead beyond all doubt.


    Notification: Gained 102 Experience Points, 15 copper coins.


    Notification: Level increased, currently level 1.


    With the death of the snow rabbit, the apanying notifications arrived as expected. The level increase made Jiang Liu feel a refreshing stream flow through his body, as if his flesh and bones had been thoroughly cleansed from the inside out, leaving him with a sense of total rxation.


    Faintly, he felt that his strength had increased somewhat, and his consciousness had be a lot clearer.


    "Liu''er, why did you stop me just now?", without time for Jiang Liu to experience the sensations that came with leveling up, Senior Brother Xuankong, having just killed the snow rabbit, spoke up and asked.


    "Senior Brother, didn''t the abbot previously say that monks should bepassionate and that you must not harm any living creature?"


    Although he hadn''t done anything in the team and had just gained experience and leveled up, Jiang Liu didn''t feel too joyful; instead, he felt a sense of guilt in his heart.


    "What the abbot said referred to wild beasts, not to demon creatures," shaking his head, Senior Brother Xuankong didn''t take it to heart.


    "But are demons necessarily bad?" Jiang Liu muttered quietly in response to Senior Brother Xuankong''s answer.


    Havinge from the modern world, with various TV shows and novels spawning endless tales of romances between humans and demons, or humans and ghosts¡ªsuch as the Legend of the White Snake or A Chinese Ghost Story.


    Not all humans are good people, and likewise, not all demons and ghosts are purely evil, right?


    "Liu''er, humans and demons are ipatible; you must never harbor such thoughts! Remember this!"


    Although Jiang Liu''s words were just quiet mutterings, Senior Brother Xuankong clearly heard them and rebuked him sternly, with a somber expression.


    "Alright, Senior Brother, I realize my mistake," seeing Senior Brother Xuankong''s stern demeanor, Jiang Liu had no intention of arguing and quickly admitted his fault.


    After all, he would have to descend the mountain and return to secr life in less than half a month.


    "Alright, I''m going to rest now. I''ll take care of the vegetable garden tomorrow; bury this demon," after seeing Jiang Liu admit his mistake, Senior Brother Xuankong''s expression slightly eased, and he turned to head back to his Zen Room.


    As Senior Brother Xuankong left, Jiang Liu fell silent for a moment, looking at the snow rabbit at his feet that was as big as a wolfhound and lifted its body.


    Indeed, underneath the body of the snow rabbit, there was a copper coin. But beyond that, there was also a thin booklet.


    ...


    Night had fallen deep.


    In Jiang Liu''s room, the oilmp was lit, a bean-sized me casting a faint light, barely dispelling the darkness within.


    An old table wasid out with a row of copper coins¡ªthese had just burst out and there were precisely fifteen.


    Beyond that, there was also the thin booklet.


    Holding the booklet closer to the oilmp for a better look, three big characters were written on it: Silencing Zen.


    "Is this a Skill Book that just dropped?", seeing the characters written on this booklet, Jiang Liu understood.


    Prompt: Do you want to consume 1 Skill Point to learn the Skill "Silencing Zen"?


    As Jiang Liu flipped through the booklet, the prompt appeared.


    Of course, there was no hesitation, and he chose to learn.


    The Skill Book in his hand instantly turned into twinkling starlight and then slowly merged into Jiang Liu''s body. Simultaneously, a sense of sudden enlightenment emerged from the depths of his heart.


    It was like remembering something that had been forgotten, and Jiang Liu gained understanding of the Silencing Zen Skill.


    Silencing Zen: Requires Level 1, long-distance cast, can silence the target for 2 seconds, during which the target cannot use any skills, cooldown time 30 seconds.


    "Indeed, just like the online game I yed before transmigration, the first Primary Level Skill of the Monk Profession is a silencing type of skill."


    Feeling the characteristics of the Silencing Zen Skill, memories of nights spent ying online games in inte cafes before his transmigration couldn''t help but sh through Jiang Liu''s mind.


    However, ying a monk in a game was stress-free, but after transmigrating and bing a monk himself, Jiang Liu felt somewhat troubled; in the game, monks were primarily a support upation. Even though there werebat-rted professions to choose fromter, the Monk upation generally leaned towards support and control.


    Compared to that, the Swordsman Profession, which is just after quick revenge, or the Taoist Profession thatmands wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, seemed much cooler.

 Chapter 7 The Demon That Speaks Human Language

    Before transmigration, Jiang Liu stayed up all night strategizing over boss raids, so he naturally had a clear understanding of everything in the game.


    In the game, there are three major professions: Monk, Taoist, and Swordsman, each with its own characteristics.


    Taoists mainly focus on spell-based attacks and can advance into pure "Magic Cannons" known as Heavenly Masters or into the Demon Path, which specializes in evil curses.


    Swordsmen primarily rely on physical attacks and can advance into the aggressive Sword Heroes or the defensively skilled Shield Swordsmen.


    As for monks? Jiang Liu was of course the most familiar with them because before transmigration, his profession in the game was as a Monk.


    The Monk upation is more support-oriented, and in thete stage, they can advance into the pure healing profession of Compassionate Bodhisattva or be an Immovable Vidyaraja, adept at various control andbat techniques.


    Jiang Liu''s profession was originally a Compassionate Bodhisattva, adept at all sorts of healing skills, buffs, and even the Resurrection Technique, but that was all in the game. Now that he had transmigrated into a living world, Jiang Liu felt it would be better to advance as an Immovable Vidyaraja in the future.


    After all, in the game, you could be resurrected after death, but in this real world, can you be resurrected after death?


    Jiang Liu wasn''t sure, and he didn''t want to gamble with his own life.


    "In the early stages of the Monk profession, the main role is still support, so I need to work hard to level up and advance to level 20 as soon as possible," Jiang Liu thought about his future job advancement, feeling the journey ahead was long, especially since he was only level 1 now.


    There was no conversation that night, and the next two days passed very peacefully. Cooking meals and cleaning every day, Jiang Liu treasured thesest quiet and peaceful days at Jinshan Temple.


    One day, after eating lunch and scrubbing the pots and pans, with nothing else to do, Jiang Liu tidied up a bit and headed to the back mountain again.


    Being in the midst of growing up, meat was essential to his diet; he just hoped that this time, he wouldn''t run into a snow rabbit again.


    In the back mountain, a young girl named Gaoyang, dressed in a sturdy outfit exuding an air of heroism, walked through the dense grass, deliberately making a lot of noise to startle the snakes.


    Sure enough, after a while, a pheasant took flight in rm and fled into the distance.


    A sh of cold light appeared, and Gaoyang''s flying dagger shot out, urately hitting the pheasant''s neck and bringing it down.


    Holding the pheasant in her hand, Gaoyang let out a soft sigh, involuntarily thinking of the Novice Monk she had encountered a few days ago.


    His cooking skills were truly good, but unfortunately, the Novice Monk hadn''te to the back mountain for several days, and she only found a few animal traps he had left behind.


    "Gurgle..." Thinking of Jiang Liu, Gaoyang felt her mouth water and her stomach grumble.


    Touching her own belly, Gaoyang felt helpless again.


    Thest time she caught some game, she thought that the Novice Monk made roasting it look so easy, but to her dismay, it ended up burnt, ck and bitter, and hard to swallow.


    These past few days, she had only been able to get by on some wild fruits from the mountain.


    "I don''t believe this young heroine can be thwarted by such a small matter! Today, I must roast this pheasant well!" Gaoyang thought of her recent dining troubles, feeling almost tearful from frustration.


    Ah, ah, ah...


    However, just when Gaoyang was determined, silently cheering herself on to roast the pheasant well this time, suddenly, loud shouts erupted in the tranquil mountains, drawing Gaoyang''s attention.


    "Ah!!!" Funnelling his hands into a megaphone shape, Jiang Liu shouted loudly a few times toward the open mountains, feeling exhrated.


    Walking for almost half an hour, he was tired but the mountain air was good; shouting aloud to clear his lungs felt quite nice.


    After nearly an hour''s trek, Jiang Liu finally arrived at his destination and began to check the simple animal traps he had set up.


    Several days had passed, and he wondered if he had sessfully captured any prey.


    This time, it seems like luck was on Jiang Liu''s side. After checking only a few, his eyes lit up slightly.


    One of his animal traps had sessfully caught a wild pheasant.


    Jiang Liu walked over and looked at it, sighing helplessly in his heart. It was a pity it was already dead; otherwise, if he had killed it himself, he could have gained another Experience Point.


    "Ordinary small animals, like the snow rabbit originally caught by the trap, yield only one Experience Point after being killed, but the Demon Snow Rabbit that Senior Brother Xuankong killed before gave over 100. It seems that to get a high number of Experience Points, one needs to kill some strong beasts or even Demons," he mused.


    Despite his regrets, Jiang Liu''s movements were quick. He took the pheasant and went to a nearby mountain stream to process it.


    He slit open the body, removed the guts, plucked the feathers¡ªall with swift movements. As he washed the pheasant, its blood merged into the stream water and flowed downstream.


    "Eh? What''s this?" After he plucked the feathers off the wild pheasant, Jiang Liu suddenly froze for a moment.


    It turned out that aside from the wound left by his rudimentary animal trap, there was also a hole in the pheasant''s neck.


    "Well, well, you little monk, you''re killing again, wanting to eat meat, and you''ve been caught by me again, haven''t you?" came a familiar, scolding voice from behind Jiang Liu.


    Turning his head, he saw the girl staring at him just like before, saying almost the same words as that day.


    "If you wanted to eat it, you could have just said so. You specifically hunted this pheasant and then secretly ced it in my trap, didn''t you?" Seeing the girl who hade over, how could Jiang Liu not understand what the bloody hole in the pheasant''s neck was all about?


    Having her little trick exposed again, a sh of embarrassment crossed Gaoyang''s face.


    But since she had been found out, Gaoyang didn''t deny it: "You couldn''t finish this wild pheasant by yourself. Finder''s keepers."


    "What if I say I can finish it?" Jiang Liu muttered inwardly at the girl''s words.


    There''s a saying that goes, a teenage boy can eat his poor old father into the ground¡ªand at the ripe old age of 15, one is at their most ravenous. A wild pheasant only weighs a little over two pounds. After plucking and bleeding, a person really could finish it all by themselves.


    Of course, such words, Jiang Liu naturally would not speak out loud.


    The pheasant was hunted by Gaoyang, and rightfully she deserved a share as well.


    With adept movements, Jiang Liu had Gaoyang gather some dry branches to return with, lit a bonfire, and then started to prepare the pheasant.


    Gaoyang''s eyes widened as she carefully observed Jiang Liu''s actions, finding them very novel.


    Jiang Liu''s process didn''t seemplicated, but why was it that the food he grilled tasted so good when hers always ended up burnt?


    Cooking, Jiang Liu''s expression was very serious. Perhaps it was due to the nearly rigorous demands of his uncles, insisting that cooking required undivided attention.


    There''s an adage that says, a man who is serious can be most charming.


    Jiang Liu was focused on cooking, while Gaoyang''s attention was on him. For a moment, everything became quiet.


    Downstream, a wolf came to the water''s edge. If someone else were to be there, they would have certainly screamed.


    This wolf was not prowling on all fours like other wild animals; instead, it walked upright on two legs.


    Even though it looked like a wolf from head to toe, the way it stood and walked was like that of a human.


    It crouched down by the stream, took a few sips of water, and then suddenly, the Wolf Demon brightened up, looking toward the upper part of the stream and spoke human words.


    "Is there blood in this water?"

 Chapter 8 Demon Soldier

    Jiang Liu, sitting atop a green rock, wore a tattered gray-white monk''s robe, a roasted pheasant skewered on the wooden stick in his hand, with a pretty young girl sitting beside him.


    It was both a vition of the meat prohibition and the lust prohibition. If seen by other monks, he might be regarded as a debauched monk and expelled from the monastery.


    The licking mes scorched the pheasant, slowly infusing the seasoning smeared on it into the meat, mingling with the original vor of the meat and emanating a peculiar aroma into the air.


    The girl beside him, Gaoyang, slightly twitched her nose and quietly swallowed her saliva.


    "Hehehe, such delicious meat¡­" Just then, suddenly, a slightly ominous and hoarse voice rang out.


    Jiang Liu turned towards the voice and saw a sturdy grey wolf, the size of a young calf, emerging from the grass beside him.


    Examining the grey wolf, it was strong and hearty, but it bore numerous scars, and a w mark over its left eye had blinded it, revealing it as a one-eyed wolf demon.


    "Was that this wolf who just spoke?" Jiang Liu startled at the sight of the emerging wolf.


    Although he knew demons existed in this fantastical world and had heard of the Incense Offering Ceremony and demons, he had never witnessed them firsthand. The snow rabbit that attacked Jinshan Temple a few days ago was nothing more than unusuallyrge.


    And now this one-eyed wolf could actually speak humannguage?


    Jiang Liu was taken aback, first by the appearance of the wolf and second because the wolf could actually speak.


    "Hmph, just a mere demon, daring to appear so boldly? Are you not afraid of being vanquished?" Compared to Jiang Liu''s shock, the girl, Gaoyang, showed no trace of panic, instead chiding sharply.


    "Hehehe, though the chicken is fragrant, human flesh is far sweeter and more delicious. Devouring you two, not only would my injuries fully heal, but my cultivation level would surely advance further¡­"


    The grey wolf''s gaze swept over the pheasant roasting on the me Mountain, but his greedy eyes finally rested on Jiang Liu and Gaoyang.


    "Daring to consume human flesh? You must be executed!" Gaoyang eximed furiously, abruptly standing up, and with a raise of her jade hand, two shes of cold light appeared, shooting directly towards the grey wolf¡ªboth were flying daggers.


    However, the grey wolf leaped deftly, its agile form easily dodging the flying daggers and, at the same time, pounced towards Gaoyang like a fierce tiger.


    Gaoyang reacted swiftly as well, her whipshing out from her waist, snapping like a flood dragon as it fiercely struck towards the grey wolf.


    The fight between the young girl and the grey wolf was intensely back and forth.


    Although unable to intervene, Jiang Liu could tell that both the grey wolf''s and Gaoyang''s strength were somewhat stronger than the previously seen snow rabbit and Senior Brother Xuankong.


    "How do I intervene?" With the team status below, the scene before Jiang Liu hadpletely changed, watching the battle between the grey wolf and Gaoyang, he felt a sense of urgency within.


    At first nce, the fight between the grey wolf and Gaoyang seemed evenly matched¡ªone ps a paw, the other snaps a whip. However, Jiang Liu could clearly see that although the grey wolf appeared to be struggling, its health bar was decreasing very slowly.


    On the other hand, Gaoyang''s health bar had dropped by about a third after a short while.


    Feeling urgent, Jiang Liu naturally wanted to lend a hand.


    Although demons were terrifying, there was no reason for a woman to fight while he, a grown man, hid behind her.


    However, despite wanting to help, Jiang Liu found absolutely no opportunity to intervene.


    In such an intense battle, a mere level 1 like himself was no different from an ordinary person; charging in would probably only burden Gaoyang further.


    From what was visible, this wolf already bore injuries, so its battle with Gaoyang was closely matched.


    Even as time passed, the signs of defeat seemed to appear.


    However, Jiang Liu could see that the wolf originally had about 70 to 80 percent of its health, and now it still had over 60 percent. As the battle continued, the decrease in health was not significant.


    In contrast, Gaoyang seemed quite miserable, with many parts of her body scratched by wolf ws, blood drenching her body, especially the health bar above her head that only Jiang Liu could see, which was now only about half full...


    This situation made Jiang Liu somewhat surprised; on the surface, it looked as if Gaoyang was on the brink of victory, yet ording to the health bar, Gaoyang waspletely suppressed. What was going on?


    Amid his surprise, Jiang Liu''s mind suddenly recalled a text he had learned in middle school.


    "The Wolf," written by Pu Songling, was a text excerpted in the middle school Mandarin textbook, which narrated the story of a butcher encountering two wolves on his way home after selling meat, a tale filled with strategies and wits.


    This text had vividly revealed the cunning nature of wolves.


    "Gaoyang, be careful, this wolf is feigning weakness!", a thought shed through Jiang Liu''s mind, and he shouted at Gaoyang.


    The injured Gaoyang, holding a whip, resembling a blood-soaked female general, slightly changed her expression upon hearing Jiang Liu''s shout.


    The Grey Wolf nearby also had a glint in its eyes; its formerly gging spirit suddenly rejuvenated, and it even stood on its hind legs.


    Its paws viciously tore at Gaoyang.


    "Can stand upright? Are you a Demon Soldier?", Gaoyang eximed as she saw the Grey Wolf stand up.


    With a ripping sound, blood sttered, and the girl''s shoulder was deeplycerated by the wolf''s ws, hurling her next to Jiang Liu.


    With blood-stained paws, the Grey Wolf remained standing, stepping towards Gaoyang and Jiang Liu like a human.


    As it walked, it extended its tongue to lick the blood off its paws, its eyes gleaming with an even greater greedy fervor.


    "Indeed, this wolf is full of tricks; it was just pretending to be weak!", Jiang Liu''s suspicion was confirmed upon witnessing this scene, his heart sinking.


    "Demon, is this what a true demon looks like? Able to stand and walk like a human, and even speak", Jiang Liu truly realized what a demon looked like, watching the Wolf Demon.


    With a whoosh, a ck shadow suddenly smashed towards the Wolf Demon.


    The Wolf Demon urately caught the ck shadow with its paw; it was the roast chicken Jiang Liu had just prepared.


    A look of disdain shed in the eyes of the Wolf Demon. It initially intended to discard the roast chicken, but its nose twitched slightly, and it promptly licked it with its tongue.


    After tasting it, the Wolf Demon''s eyes brightened: "Hmm, this little monk makes tasty roast chicken. I could eat this girl to recover from injuries, and as for this little monk? No rush to kill him, let him cook roast chicken for me every day, and once I tire of it, then eat him...".


    Having used the roast chicken to momentarily distract the Wolf Demon, Jiang Liu helped Gaoyang up and turned to run into the distance.


    "Jiang Liu, it''s useless, the Wolf Demon is very fast, we can''t escape...", supported by Jiang Liu, Gaoyang, pale from blood loss, spoke in a weak voice, shaking her head.


    "I know we can''t escape, but we can''t just sit and wait for death, can we?", Jiang Liu said urgently while supporting Gaoyang.


    Watching Jiang Liu and Gaoyang''s fleeing figures stagger into the distance, the Wolf Demon was not in a hurry to pursue; after rapidly consuming the roast chicken bones and all, it then crouched down and, moving like a sh of lightning, chased after them.


    Naturally, its speed was much faster than that of Gaoyang and Jiang Liu...

 Chapter 9 Fine Quality Equipment

    Jiang Liu supported Gaoyang as they raced forward, but how could they outrun a Wolf Demon on all fours?


    Coming up behind the two, the Wolf Demon raised its paw and aimed a heavy, forceful blow toward Gaoyang''s back.


    The girl, naturally, would not sit still and await death. Feeling the bone-chilling wind at her back, a cold gleam appeared between her fingers, then a Flying Dagger materialized, ready to be thrown at the Wolf Demon''s throat.


    To eliminate this Wolf Demon, she could only target its throat and eyes¡ªthese lethal spots.


    Awoo!


    However, just as Gaoyang raised her hand, the Wolf Demon suddenly let out a piercing Wolf Howl from its mouth.


    The intangible soundwaves, as if tangible, mmed into the heads of Jiang Liu and Gaoyang.


    Jiang Liu felt as if his head had been hammered, his consciousness blurred for a moment, followed by dizziness and the world spinning around him.


    By the time Jiang Liu regained his senses, he was already lying on the ground, feeling as if he had just been hit by a train, his body seemingly falling apart.


    As for Gaoyang, lying next to him, her situation was even more dire, herplexion as pale as paper with a trail of blood at the corner of her mouth.


    In particr, the Health Bar above the girl''s head was only about one-tenth full, perilously close to death.


    "Cough, cough...", the girl coughed twice, spitting out more fresh blood, staring in horror at the Wolf Demon before her.


    She hadn''t expected the Wolf Demon to be able to disorient its prey with a howl.


    Indeed, the battle she just had with it had been a feigned weakness, intended to lull her intocency.


    The Wolf Demon rose to its feet, sparing Jiang Liu a nce but not in a hurry to kill him.


    Its one eye gleamed greedily at Gaoyang, before extending its blood-red tongue to lick its lips.


    Human flesh was a great tonic for those of the Demon n.


    "Gaoyang, can you still move? Try once more, aim for its eyes," Jiang Liu whispered to Gaoyang, even though they were both nearly immobile, the situation critical.


    "No, it''s no use, its Wolf Howl, it will...," Gaoyang weakly shook her head, her voice frail, obviously at the end of her strength.


    "Listen to me, try it!" Seeing the Wolf Demon approaching step by step, Jiang Liu didn''t have time to exin, softly urging her.


    The girl didn''t respond, lying on the ground breathing more out than in, seemingly at her end.


    The Wolf Demon could tell Gaoyang had little strength left to resist; it was well aware of the gravity of the injuries its previous attack had caused.


    Approaching Gaoyang, the Wolf Demon opened its jaws wide and viciously bit down toward her neck.


    Its sharp wolf teeth could break even iron, it believed.


    In that moment, Gaoyang held a Flying Dagger in her hand, marshalling herst bit of strength, she thrust it towards the Wolf Demon''s remaining eye.


    Although she didn''t understand why Jiang Liu asked her to try, when survival was at stake, they were in the same boat¡ªshe had to trust him.


    Watching Gaoyang''s desperate counterattack, a mocking light flickered in the depths of the Wolf Demon''s eye. To it, this was nothing but a useless struggle in the face of death.


    As the Wolf Demon''s mouth opened slightly and inhaled, demonic power surged, preparing to unleash a Wolf Howl.


    "Silencing Zen!" At that exact moment, Jiang Liu suddenly pointed a finger at the Wolf Demon.


    Instantly, the Wolf Demon found the demonic power within its body as still as dead water, unable to be summoned.


    The Wolf Howl that was about to emerge simply became a in howl,pletelycking the ability to disorient.


    With a "puchi" sound, unaffected by the Wolf Howl, the girl''s dagger plunged into the Wolf Demon''s eye at this critical juncture. It was toote for the Wolf Demon to react; the Flying Dagger sank straight into its solitary eye, hilt deep.


    That strike, likely piercing through the eye socket, may have reached the Wolf Demon''s brain.


    A scream of agony, blood sttering everywhere¡ªthe Wolf Demon, having only one eye to begin with, now had that pierced through, clutching its eye and howling in pain.


    The Health Bar of the Wolf Demon, which had been about half-full, visibly shrank by arge margin with that fatal blow to the eye.


    Even as the Wolf Demon howled in pain, its health bar was slowly diminishing...


    In just a few minutes, the howls of the Wolf Demon grew weaker until, eventually, ity on the ground, its limbs twitching unconsciously a few times before it stopped moving altogether.


    Although after transmigrating Jiang Liu had acquired a game system''s abilities, and battling demons seemed like ying a game, this was, after all, the real world. If one''s head was chopped off or throat cut in a fatal injury, one would still die.


    Notification: Gained Experience Points 2800, acquired 1 tael of silver.


    As the Wolf Demon perished, a notification promptly arrived, and at almost the same moment, several cool breezes passed through Jiang Liu''s body, instantly healing all wounds and fatigue.


    Jiang Liu stood up, full of vim and vigor, showing no signs of injury whatsoever.


    ncing down at himself, he could see changes in his character panel. His level, which had been 1, had now reached 4. Was it possible that by killing the Wolf Demon, which was of a higher level, he had actually jumped three levels at once?


    "Could it really be the game system? A character''s level up usuallyes with a full restoration of health and mana bars, so this setting hase along as well?"


    With the level up, his injuries instantly healed, and Jiang Liu understood what was happening.


    You''re alright?" Gaoyang, standing by the side, watched as the Wolf Demon was killed. Though she had just breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Jiang Liu instantly sprightly and full of life left herpletely dumbfounded, her face a picture of bewilderment.


    "How are you feeling? Your injuries looked serious," Jiang Liu went over to Gaoyang''s side and helped her to sit up.


    Her health bar was only about ten percent full; such injuries were naturally very severe.


    "I''m fine, I''m just going to rest a bit," the young girl, having narrowly escaped death and seriously wounded, let go of her tightly wound nerves and fell into a deep sleep.


    Watching the girl fall asleep, Jiang Liu hesitated. Her injuries were serious. The Wolf Demon''s ws had left several horrific wounds, and she was bleeding profusely. Falling asleep like that, could she die from excessive blood loss?


    After a brief hesitation, and getting no response from the girl when he nudged her, Jiang Liu silently uttered "Amitabha Buddha," and carefully extended his hand, trembling slightly as he tore her clothes into several strips to dress her wounds.


    After a moment''s busy work, the dressing was decidedly unsightly, but it seemed to have stopped a lot of the bleeding. Wiping the sweat from his brow, it seemed this was more tiring than fighting demons.


    Not daring to look again at the disheveled girl, Jiang Liu thought for a moment and went over to the Wolf Demon''s corpse, moving it aside with effort.


    Indeed, there was something underneath the Wolf Demon''s body.


    A silver ingot, weighing a full tael, which Jiang Liu gleefully pocketed.


    The purchasing power of a tael of silver was considerable. Just looking at how the monks from Jinshan Temple, like Xuanwu, would happily leave the mountain to perform rituals for a pay of one tael and two coins of silver made it clear.


    Besides that, Jiang Liu also spotted two red potion bottles, one blue potion bottle, and also, two skill books, a white ring as pure as jade, and a string of Buddha beads.


    The two red potion bottles were Blood Bottles, which could replenish Health Points, or in other words, heal injuries.


    The blue potion bottle was for replenishing mana, in other words, restoring strength.


    Both types of potions were quitemon in games.


    As for the two skill books, Jiang Liu picked them up for a look. One was a Swordsman ss skill called "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water".


    The other was a skill book he could use, Monk''s level 5 skill "Vajra Mantra".


    He was now just one step away from reaching level 5.


    Jiang Liu then turned his attention to the other two pieces of equipment.


    White Jade Ring (Normal Quality): Attack Power +10, Durability 10/10.


    Sandalwood Buddha Beads (Fine Quality): Buffs from skills increased by 15%,es with the skill "Starry Sky Spread": Shoot all 108 beads at once, repelling targets within a fan-shaped area, Cooldown Time 1 day, Durability 10/10.


    "So it''s true then? Whether in the game or the real world, only defeating enemies above one''s level is the way to wealth and prosperity..."


    Having killed the Wolf Demon, his level shot up to 4 in an instant, and he had gained such an array of great loot, which made Jiang Liu overjoyed.


    This was the only major loot Jiang Liu had obtained since his transmigration.


    It was not just potions and skill books, but also equipment...

 Chapter 10 How about I leave the monastic life and marry you?

    High risk, high reward, this statement couldn''t be more urate.


    Jiang Liu''s eyes were keen, and the young girl Gaoyang''s strength was obviously a notch stronger than Senior Brother Xuankong''s. Yet even so, she was far from being a match for the Wolf Demon, which attests to the demon''s formidable strength.


    Moreover, after teaming up and killing the Wolf Demon, the substantial gain of 2800 Experience Points that allowed him to level up three times was proof enough of everything.


    The Sandalwood Buddha Beads, being Fine Level Equipment without any level requirement for wearing, were naturally donned by Jiang Liu.


    With a 15% enhancement to Buff effects, it was undoubtedly the perfect equipment for a Monk with a support-oriented profession.


    What was even more crucial was that it came with a Skill Special Effect, which was precisely what Jiang Liu needed most at the moment.


    As for the Level 5 Skill Book "Vajra Mantra," Jiang Liu, who was only Level 4, fell slightly short and therefore tucked it away to study once he reached Level 5.


    Another Skill Book, "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water," was for the Swordsman ss and a Body Technique Category Skill that could increase movement speed to a certain extent.


    Jiang Liu thought that once Gaoyang woke up, he would see if she could learn it.


    Could others learn Skill Books dropped by the gaming system? Jiang Liu was curious and hopeful.


    Last, Jiang Liu''s gaze fell upon the White Jade Ring. Although it was only amon quality Equipment and merely increased Attack Power by 10, it was better than nothing, right?


    However, considering his profession leaned towards support, he probably wouldn''t actively engage inbat, so the ring might not be that useful for him.


    "Hey, Jiang Liu, what have you done to me?" Gaoyang, who had been unconscious for a short while, wasing around and startled by her disheveled appearance, cried out in rm.


    "Awake? If you can shout that loudly, it seems that you''re all right," Jiang Liu said, turning to her.


    After a brief slumber, Gaoyang''splexion did look a little better. Perhaps, just like in the game, one''s Health Points and mana could recover while resting?


    "Hurry up and tell me, what exactly did you do to me?" Frantic and fuming, the young girl stood up, clutching her tattered clothing tightly with one hand while wielding her whip with the other.


    "Nothing, I didn''t do anything. I just saw you''d passed out, bleeding, so I... bandaged you up a bit."


    Seeing the girl raise her whip, Jiang Liu vividly remembered how her singlesh could crack stone, and with his flesh and blood body, a single strike would certainly result in a fracture, so he hurriedly exined.


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s exnation, Gaoyang took a moment to survey her own condition.


    Indeed, where she had been injured by the wolf''s ws, there were several unsightly knots tied with cloth clearly torn from her own garments.


    Gaoyang''s face turned at intervals from green to white withbored breathing; she was at a loss as to what to do with Jiang Liu.


    Should she thank him? As a young girl whose body had been seen, was she supposed to show gratitude?


    Yet if sheshed out in anger? After all, he had tried to save her.


    On top of that, the fact that he had not abandoned her and run for his life in the face of the Wolf Demon also moved her somewhat.


    "Well, you know... I''m a Monk, and saving you could be considered a vition of my precepts against lustful conduct. The sacrifice I''ve made is substantial..." Jiang Liu said, seeing that she was conflicted about how to deal with him and feeling it was necessary to speak up on his behalf.


    Even though it felt a bit like throwing the first punch as a preemptive defense.


    "You..." Gaoyang''s face flushed with anger as she stepped forward and grabbed the front of his robes. "You, a Monk who eats meat and takes life, and now you''ve broken another precept. You''ll never be able to be a Monk in this life. You will definitely not pass the Incense Offering Ceremony."


    For other novice monks, Gaoyang''s words could have been seen as a vicious curse, but for Jiang Liu, they were like the sound of heavenly music.


    "Thanks for your good wishes. I, too, hope I fail the Incense Offering Ceremony, then leave the monastic life, open a restaurant, marry a wife, and lead a peaceful life," Jiang Liu admitted honestly. That had been his n all along.


    "You¡­," Gaoyang stuttered after hearing Jiang Liu''s sincere reply, looking at him, momentarily lost for words.


    However, after a moment of silence, Gaoyang''s smile returned, "Well, if that''s really the case, then you''ll have to marry me before you can marry anyone else."


    "Ah!?," Jiang Liu was taken aback by Gaoyang''s bold statement.


    "While I was unconscious just now, you stripped off my clothes. Are you considering not taking responsibility?" Gaoyang asked seriously, staring at Jiang Liu.


    Jiang Liu was momentarily speechless but then came to a realization.


    In modern society, bikini-d girls on the beach would let you look all you wanted and changing boyfriends every other day was nothing unusual.


    But this was ancient times, after all, even if the Tang Dynasty was the most liberal era, women still ced great importance on chastity.


    What he did would have beenpletely eptable in modern times, but in this era¡­


    As realization dawned on him, Jiang Liu scrutinized the girl before him. He had to admit, the teenage girl in the flower of youth was also stunningly beautiful. If he really did marry her, perhaps it wouldn''t be so bad?


    "So, are you willing to marry me?" Jiang Liu asked after some thought, nodding to himself inwardly.


    "I am not!" Gaoyang vehemently shook her head in refusal to Jiang Liu''s question.


    This response made Jiang Liu roll his eyes, "Hey, aren''t you being a bit unreasonable? You don''t want to marry me, yet you won''t allow me to marry someone else?"


    "You silly bald donkey, we''ve only met twice, and you expect me to agree to marry you? Do you have the approval of our parents or a matchmaker''s words? Besides, aren''t you still a monk? Are you even eligible to marry?" Gaoyang retorted indignantly.


    "Oh¡­" Jiang Liu said, suddenly understanding, "So, what you mean is, after I leave the monastic life, I can marry you openly and above board?"


    "Well, at least I would have to agree to it first¡­" Gaoyang said, her face flushing with shyness as she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.


    Although Jiang Liu wasn''t particrly emotionally intelligent, having never been in a romantic rtionship either in his past or present life¡ªotherwise, he wouldn''t have been gaming all night leading to his transmigration¡ª


    But from Gaoyang''s demeanor, Jiang Liu understood that although she hadn''t agreed to marry him, at least she didn''t object to him.


    After all, they were just a boy and a girl with no experience in love, and discussing marriage after meeting only twice was indeed a bit early. At the very least, she was willing to keep in contact and give it a try.


    With neither one experienced in romance, the conversation had be somewhat embarrassing, and the atmosphere suddenly felt a bit awkward and charged.


    After a moment of silence, Jiang Liu took out two Blood Bottles he had just exploded onto from his robes and handed them over, saying, "I have two bottles of healing medicine here. Drink them quickly; they''ll help your recovery."


    Gaoyang didn''t bother with niceties and took them.


    After drinking one, herplexion immediately became rosier, and even her injuries started to heal significantly¡ªa real instantaneous effect.


    "What a miraculous potion!" Feeling the effects of the potion, Gaoyang was astonished as she held the Blood Bottle. At the same time, she unwrapped a bandage from her arm.


    Sure enough, the formerly gruesome wound had already started to scab over.


    "If you had such good potions, why didn''t you use them earlier? And why did you have to tear my clothes¡­"


    "Look, do you believe me if I say that I only got these potions just now?"

 Chapter 11 Even the Childs Name is Decided

    After taking the Blood Bottle, Gaoyang''s injuries had healed considerably.


    She didn''t have the heart to consume the second bottle, and instead saved it, saying that such a miraculous potion should be reserved for life-saving moments in critical times.


    Jiang Liu agreed with Gaoyang''s decision, and after pondering for a short while, he took out the skill book "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water" and the White Jade Ring, presenting them to Gaoyang, "These are for you."


    "What''s this? A skill manual for movement techniques?" Gaoyang flipped through the skill book casually and understood what it was.


    When she saw the other White Jade Ring, Gaoyang''s cheeks grew somewhat warm, but she didn''t show the shy expression of a young girl. Instead, she epted it with grace and slipped the White Jade Ring onto her fair finger.


    "See if you can cultivate sessfully with this manual. As for this ring, though it''s just ordinary equipment, if Ie across something better in the future, I''ll give it to you," Jiang Liu said, after passing the skill book and White Jade Ring to Gaoyang.


    "No, I really like this ring and will wear it for life," Gaoyang lifted her hand and gazed at the White Jade Ring on her finger. She liked it more the more she looked at it and shook her head, declining, no longer intending to take it off.


    Giving her the White Jade Ring was simply because the ordinary piece of equipment added 10 attack power. Seeing Gaoyang''s reaction, it was clear that she had misunderstood something.


    However, hearing her words, Jiang Liu felt warmth in his heart and decided, since it was a beautiful misunderstanding, there was no need to rify the truth.


    "By the way, Jiang Liu, how did you manage to nullify that wolf demon''s howling just now?" Curious about the frightening scene they had just experienced, Gaoyang asked Jiang Liu.


    "That''s my ability, which can prevent others'' abilities from taking effect," Jiang Liu exined the effect of the "Silencing Zen" skill simply.


    "It turns out you''ve not only bypassed the Incense Offering Ceremony, you''ve even secretly learned the secret techniques of the Buddhist Sect. You really are someone who doesn''t abide by the rules and precepts," Gaoyang said with augh upon hearing Jiang Liu''s words.


    Generally, Buddhist Disciples could not study divine skills for subduing demons without going through the Incense Offering Ceremony. Jiang Liu, being a Novice Monk, would naturally seem to have learned such techniques illicitly to Gaoyang.


    Not wanting to linger on the topic of his gaming system, Jiang Liu changed the subject, "By the way, I remember you mentioned that the wolf demon was a Demon Soldier? Is there a ssification for the strength of demons?"


    "Of course, there is. I once read an ancient tome stating that fish, insects, beasts, and everything that absorbs the essence of heaven and earth can be demons. Based on different manifestations, there is also a rough ssification for demons," nodded Gaoyang as she gave a brief exnation about demons.


    "The lowest level of demon is known as the Demon. As the name suggests, it refers to animals that have be enlightened. They typically exhibit unusuallyrge body sizes contrary to the norm and possess a certain level of spiritual wisdom. This level is known as the Demon."


    "I see," Jiang Liu nodded in understanding upon hearing the description of the Demon.


    He recalled the Snow Rabbit Demon that Senior Brother Xuankong had killed the other day. That should have been a Demon, right?


    "Next, as demons cultivate deeper and their spiritual wisdom increases, gradually achieving human-like understanding and, by refining their throat bones, managing to speak humannguages, they are entitled to be called Monsters. Hence, this level of demons is referred to as Monsters..."


    "And then, with even deeper cultivation, not only can they speak humannguages, but they can even imitate human bodily movements, standing upright to walk. Demons at this level are called Demon Soldiers, with ''soldier'' signifying their human-like characteristics."


    "No wonder, when that wolf demon spoke humannguage earlier, Gaoyang was confident enough to confront it in battle. Yet when the wolf demon stood up and walked like a human, Gaoyang admitted to not being a match," Jiang Liu mused.


    Hearing the ssification of Demon, monster, and Demon n, Jiang Liu had an epiphany and also gained a rough idea of Gaoyang''s strength.


    "What about the levels beyond that?" After pondering for a moment, Jiang Liu asked curiously.


    "Beyond that, I''ve heard that above a Demon Soldier, there''s a Demon General, and above a Demon General is a Demon Marshal and the like. I''ve even read in some fantastic stories that there are legends of Demon Saints who can y immortals and extinguish Buddhas, but those are just fanciful tales..."


    Gaoyang shook her head to indicate that she wasn''t very familiar with the higher levels.


    "Alright, those do seem rather distant," Jiang Liu said, no longer minding since Gaoyang wasn''t very clear on the matter.


    Forget about so-called Demon Generals and Demon Marshals, even if another wolf demon like the one just now were toe, I wouldn''t know when I could overpower it. Understanding more doesn''t have any significance.


    Having experienced the incident with the wolf demon, the two of us have had a life-and-death experience together. Adding to that and the fact that we''ve spoken about the Incense Offering Ceremony, Jiang Liu, who had left the monkhood, could now marry; therefore, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang are now considered a couple.


    Gaoyang''s injuries had also healed quite a bit, and after he''d caught another game, Jiang Liu cooked it thoroughly once more and offered it to the "Five Viscera Temples".


    Having agreed to meet at the old ce every afternoon for the next ten days or so, Jiang Liu then walked back to Jinshan Temple with a light step.


    "Who would have thought, following the guide, the true destiny I met here would be a monk..." Gaoyang muttered to herself, a touch of sorrow on her delicate face as she sat alone following Jiang Liu''s departure.


    However, when she saw the white jade ring on her finger, a smile of happiness slowly returned to her beautiful face.


    "Well, he''s just a Novice Monk for now, not a real monk. After a few more days, once he goes through the Incense Offering Ceremony, he''ll formally resume secr life..."


    Which girl doesn''t harbor romantic dreams? Thinking about her wedding day with Jiang Liu after his return to secr life filled Gaoyang with anticipation and sweetness.


    As for whether Jiang Liu would be a true monk after the Incense Offering Ceremony? Gaoyang harbored no doubts about that; the Novice Monk who didn''t adhere to the precepts wouldn''t possibly pass the ceremony.


    Even if he were to be branded with incense scars, as long as one wished to, returning to secr life was still possible.


    "In the future, we should at least have a boy and a girl, right? What should we name the boy? And what about the girl?" the girl sat in contemtion, already pondering the names of their future children.


    ...


    Putting aside the events at the back mountains where Gaoyang had even decided on the names for her future children with Jiang Liu, down in the vige at the foot of the mountain, the house with thergest repair belonged to Esquire Zhang''s family.


    Though just vigers of Jinshan Vige, Esquire Zhang possessed a store in Chang''an City, making him the wealthiest family in the vige.


    A few days earlier, his household was haunted, leading to unrest, and Esquire Zhang had invited Monk Xuanwu from Jinshan Temple to recite scriptures and conduct an exorcism.


    Several days had passed, and it seemed the troubled spirit had indeed vanished. Esquire Zhang''s wife insisted on bringing offerings and visiting the temple to fulfill their vows.


    Esquire Zhang, half-heartedly and under the persistent pulling of his wife, made the trip to the temple, followed by their servants and maids.


    Although Jinshan Temple was only midway up the mountain and not particrly high, for Esquire Zhang, who was unustomed to physical exertion, it still proved to be quite a burden. After a short walk, he was already panting.


    "Ah, I''ve invited Monk Xuanwu, and didn''t he resolve the matter? Moreover, I spent over a tael of silver. Why bother making a vow anding up the mountain for no reason? It''s just a waste of money..."


    Faintly in the distance, Jinshan Temple came into view. There was a reluctant tinge to Esquire Zhang''s panting voice.


    "Visiting the temple to fulfill a vow is to show respect to the Bodhisattva. How can you call it a waste of money? My Lord, since we''re already here, let''s hurry up, we''ve arrived," said the wife, in contrast to Esquire Zhang. She held firm belief in the Buddhist teachings and patiently urged him along until the group of four finally reached the gates of Jinshan Temple.


    Anxiously waiting for days with no visitors, Monk Xuanming naturally perked up at the sight of pilgrims arriving, and quickly went over to receive them.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Liu, having returned from the back mountains, pondered to himself about spending more time meeting with Gaoyang; perhaps the two could form a team, fight monsters and level up together. After his return to secr life, they might even be a couple renowned in the martial world?


    However, as soon as Jiang Liu returned, Senior Brother Xuankong quickly found him.


    "Liu''er, quick, go and cook in the kitchen. Today, Esquire Zhang is here to fulfill his vows. Judging by the time, they''ll likely have vegetarian meals on the mountain. You must perform well today..."

 Chapter 12 Guilty of Possessing a Precious Jade

    Pilgrims ascend the mountain, and after paying homage to Buddha, they generally leave behind incense money. Naturally, if the pilgrims stay on the mountain and partake in a meal, they will leave a bit more incense money.


    After all, isn''t dining free?


    Esquire Zhang is considered the wealthiest person in Jinshan Vige at the foot of the mountain. As he came to fulfill his vow this time, he naturally left behind incense money and deserved to be treated well with a meal.


    Upon receiving words from Senior Brother Xuankong, Jiang Liu nodded and then went busy in the kitchen.


    Soon, Jiang Liu rinsed the rice and put it in the pot, and then, stir-fried several colorful and fragrant vegetarian dishes.


    Especially the bean sprouts that had sprung up a few days ago, crisp and refreshing as they may be, even a simple stir-fried te was undoubtedly a novelty for the people of this era.


    Though preparing vegetarian dishes is usually fast, this time, Jiang Liu put quite a lot of effort and was very meticulous. By the time he had finished, it was almost dusk.


    Just at that time, Esquire Zhang and his group were done, and Senior Brother Xuankong quickly came over, carrying some dishes out.


    He mentioned that Senior Abbot Faming was currently entertaining Esquire Zhang, and they were dining together.


    After the meal for the Senior Abbot and his guests was served, Xuankong, Xuanming, and Xuanwu, the three Senior Brothers, also came over and joined Jiang Liu for the meal.


    During the meal, each of the Senior Brothers nodded, signaling that today''s meal was indeed more thoughtful than usual.


    Especially the bean sprouts, crispy and refreshing, clear and translucent, aplete novelty that they had never tasted before.


    However, it wasn''t long before a rush of footsteps was heard, and soon, Jiang Liu saw Senior Abbot Faming approaching, apanied by several people.


    Among them were two individuals dressed as servants and maids, naturally alongside a middle-aged couple around forty years old, likely Esquire Zhang and his wife who hade to Jinshan Temple to fulfill their vows.


    Seeing Senior Abbot Faming bring in Esquire Zhang and his party, each of the Senior Brothers put down their bowls and stood up.


    "Esquire Zhang, today''s vegetarian meal was prepared by Liu''er..." said Senior Abbot Faming, his face wearing an affable smile as he introduced Jiang Liu enthusiastically.


    Esquire Zhang, appearing to be in his forties and slightly portly, wore clothes that were not silk or satin, but the fabric looked decent, at least not coarse cloth.


    While Jiang Liu scrutinized him, Esquire Zhang was also thoroughly examining Jiang Liu.


    "Young Brother Liu''er, the dishes you cooked are very tasty. May I see your kitchen?", Esquire Zhang asked after a moment''s scrutiny.


    However, while he spoke as if asking for permission, he didn''t wait for Jiang Liu''s response and directly strode into the kitchen.


    "What''s going on here?", puzzled by Esquire Zhang''s hurried dash into the kitchen, Jiang Liu wore a baffled expression and looked questioningly at the Senior Abbot.


    Wasn''t the Senior Abbot supposed to be dining with Esquire Zhang? Why did he suddenly bring him here without any obvious reason?


    "Liu''er, Esquire Zhang not only owns shops in Chang''an but also partnered with friends to open a tavern," noticing Jiang Liu''s questioning gaze, the Senior Abbot didn''t exin much but whispered briefly and then followed into the kitchen as well.


    The words of the Senior Abbot brought a sudden realization to Jiang Liu.


    Though the temple as a whole hoped he could surpass the Incense Offering Ceremony, the elimination rate was after all over ny percent, so was the Senior Abbot considering an alternative path for him?


    If he failed to pass the Incense Offering Ceremony and had to leave Jinshan Temple, he could then seek a job at Esquire Zhang''s tavern.


    Feeling somewhat touched, Jiang Liu followed the Senior Abbot into the kitchen.


    Inside, Esquire Zhang seemed particrly interested in Jiang Liu''s seasonings, such as the meat powder ground from rice and star anise, some of his own mixed sauces, and the jar of glistening snow-like salt.


    Esquire Zhang''s final gaze fell on the small jar of salt, and he extended his hand, gently pinched a bit, and tasted it in his mouth.


    "Young Brother Liu''er, where did you obtain this fine salt? As far as I know, even Chang''an City does not sell salt of such quality," Esquire Zhang turned around, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Jiang Liu and asked.


    "This¡­," Jiang Liu was at a loss for words regarding Esquire Zhang''s question.


    This was salt he had filtered and refined himself within the temple, but for this era, this technology was indeed extraordinary, wasn''t it?


    Jiang Liu hesitated and did not speak. Esquire Zhang quickly realized that these salts were definitely not purchased; otherwise, what was there to hide?


    "Young Brother, I am willing to pay ten liang, no, twenty liang of silver. Would you be willing to teach me the method to produce this fine salt?" Esquire Zhang, with glowing eyes, stared at Jiang Liu and asked.


    Twenty liang!?


    Upon hearing this, several brothers in the temple gasped in shock, their faces filled with astonishment.


    So much money could cover the expenses of Jinshan Temple for more than a year.


    "I''m sorry, I happened upon this salt by chance; I do not possess the method of production," Although twenty liang was a lot of money, Jiang Liu felt that he could make money by fighting monsters and wasn''t in a hurry for this money.


    Moreover, although refining fine salt was not a difficult task for him, for this era, it was a method that money couldn''t buy.


    Just twenty liang of silver for such valuable knowledge? Was this an attempt to cheat him?


    "Well, that''s truly a pity¡­" Hearing Jiang Liu''s response, Esquire Zhang shook his head with a regretful expression.


    Even the brothers nearby wore a disappointed look.


    In their view, just trading a method for twenty liang of silver was an unexpected fortune for Jinshan Temple.


    Unfortunately, Jiang Liu did not know such a method.


    For Jinshan Temple, Esquire Zhang''s visit to the kitchen was merely a minor episode.


    As it was gettingte, Esquire Zhang and his party did not stay long. Seeing that Jiang Liu did not know the method of refining fine salt, they did not linger and left the mountain with regret.


    "Lord, was that salt that good? You were actually willing to pay twenty liang of silver, an amount that could buy a house," on the way down the mountain, Mrs. Zhang couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    "What do you understand, woman? If I could master this method, what is twenty liang of silver? We could even consider buying a big mansion on Zhuque Street," Esquire Zhang answered his wife''sment.


    "Zhuque Street? That''s the most prosperous area in Chang''an. A big mansion there? At least a thousand liang of silver is needed!" Mrs. Zhang eximed, shocked by Esquire Zhang''s response.


    A thousand liang of silver? That was a breath-stopping figure.


    Although the Zhang Family was considered the richest in Jinshan Vige, they had only a bit over a hundred liang of silver at home, and even summing up their properties, they barely had three or four hundred liang in total.


    A mansion costing over a thousand liang of silver? That was beyond their wildest dreams.


    "It''s regrettable that the novice monk didn''t know the method," realizing the value of this method, even Mrs. Zhang felt incredibly sorry.


    "Doesn''t know? Does he truly not know?" Without saying anything, Esquire Zhang looked back towards Jinshan Temple as he descended the mountain path, his eyes flickering.


    In the end, they were dominated by greed and fierce colors¡­

 Chapter 13 Non-System Skills Arhat Fist

    The night had deepened.


    For Jiang Liu, the appearance of Esquire Zhang was merely a minor episode.


    As the night fell, Jiang Liuy quietly on his wooden bed, his mind filled with myriad thoughts.


    He thought about his own ability issues. The Vajra Mantra was a level 5 skill, and he was still a bit short of that level to learn it, but after leveling up three times, he also had 3 skill points. Should he really put them all in Silencing Zen?


    It was just a silence-type control skill. Even at a high level, it just extended the silence duration a bit; it wasn''t very useful.


    Furthermore, after thinking about the skills issue, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but think of the "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water" movement technique.


    A skill book dropped by the system, he could instantly learn it by using 1 skill point.


    But what about giving it to someone else? Could others also learn it?


    Thinking of "Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water," Jiang Liu''s thoughts inevitably drifted to Gaoyang, a slight smile curling the corners of his mouth while his heart began to feel some anticipation.


    He thought about hurrying for dawn toe, and for the afternoon to arrive so he could meet her behind the mountain again.


    "Liu''er, are you asleep?" Just as Jiang Liu''s mind was flooded with thoughts, suddenly, a familiar voice rang from outside the Zen Room.


    "Senior Brother Xuankong, I haven''t slept yet, what''s up?" Jiang Liu got up to answer, and with a creak, he pulled open the wooden door of the Zen Room.


    "In nine days, the Incense Offering Ceremony will start. Come with me," Senior Brother Xuankong''s gaze fell on Jiang Liu, his tone somewhat mysterious.


    As soon as he finished speaking, he didn''t wait for Jiang Liu to respond and turned to leave.


    Jiang Liu: "???"


    Senior Brother Xuankong''s reaction was a bit strange, and with a puzzled heart, Jiang Liu followed him.


    They walked all the way to an open field next to Jinshan Temple''s farnd. Under the night sky, only a crescent moon was visible, so under the dim night, Senior Brother Xuankong''s face was indistinct, barely visible as a silhouette.


    "Liu''er, in nine days the grand ceremony of the Incense Offering Ceremony will take ce. You are still young. When you go down the mountain, make sure no one bullies you. I will teach you Arhat Fist, hoping you will have a means to protect yourself after you leave the mountain," Senior Brother Xuankong''s indistinct figure said under the night sky, his voice echoing.


    "Brother, do you all really have so little faith in me? Do you think that I definitely won''t make it through the Incense Offering Ceremony?"


    Although Jiang Liu had no intention of bing a monk, just before, the head monk had made arrangements for him to work at a tavern in the future, and now Xuankong was secretly teaching him martial arts so he would have some means of self-protection after leaving Jinshan Temple.


    These actions made him quite ufortable.


    "You rascal, on usual afternoons when you have nothing to do, you sneak into the back mountain¡ªdo you really think I don''t know? Secretly killing living beings, eating meat, you don''t look like a Buddhist disciple at all," Senior Brother Xuankong said with displeasure.


    "Err..." These words made Jiang Liu feel awkward, and he was momentarily lost for words.


    Fortunately, he only knew about his killing and eating meat, not about his dealings with Gaoyang; otherwise, it would have been even more embarrassing.


    "Enough of that, stop wasting words. This Arhat Fist is typically only taught to Buddhist disciples who have passed the Incense Offering Ceremony as a temple-guarding martial art. However, our Jinshan Temple doesn''t stick strictly to all these rules, so I''ll secretly teach it to you. I hope you will practice diligently after you leave the mountain.


    You don''t need topete with others, but at least it will strengthen your body," he said, waving his hand and dismissing concerns about Jiang Liu breaking the precept of eating meat, and returned to the main matter.


    "Thank you, Brother!" Although he could level up by fighting monsters and directly learn skills from skill books using skill points, Jiang Liu still felt the goodwill from Senior Brother Xuankong.


    Furthermore, aside from system skills, could he also learn other skills? Jiang Liu grew curious as well.


    Without any unnecessary words, practicing the Arhat Fist wasn''t particrly difficult. As Senior Brother Xuankong put it, the most important thing in practicing the Arhat Fist was consistent practice. The longer one practiced, the deeper one''s skill naturally became.


    However, even for a few seemingly simple stances, Jiang Liu followed along in learning for a long time, yet he hadn''t fully mastered them.


    As for some of the breathing techniques that apanied the fist movements, Jiang Liu waspletely baffled and didn''t understand much at all.


    This instruction went on until thete night, over two Chinese Hours. Watching Jiang Liu struggle even with the basic movements, Senior Brother Xuankong remained silent for a long time. Under the night sky, his expression waspletely obscured.


    "Senior Brother, do I perhaps have poor aptitude?" Seeing that Senior Brother Xuankong had been silent for quite some time, Jiang Liu also started feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    "It seems you''re not very suitable for martial arts, your aptitude..." Senior Brother Xuankong shook his head slightly and paused when he broached the topic of Jiang Liu''s aptitude, hesitating to continue, which was revealing of what he thought of Jiang Liu''s capabilities.


    "Alright, that''s it for the Arhat Fist. You''ve barely memorized the movements, and fortunately, I have made a booklet of the relevant breathing techniques and movements for you to take. When you have time, you should study it thoroughly."


    Clearly having lost all confidence in Jiang Liu''s martial arts talent, which was as uninspiring as a block of wood, Senior Brother Xuankong pulled out a booklet he had prepared beforehand and handed it to Jiang Liu before turning and walking away.


    "Ah..." Watching Senior Brother Xuankong''s figure quickly disappearing into the night, Jiang Liu sighed helplessly.


    If possible, who wouldn''t want to be a martial arts prodigy?


    But looking at it, it seemed like he would never be one in his lifetime.


    However, thinking about how he could level up by fighting monsters and directly learn skills using skill points, Jiang Liu shook his head and threw that disappointment to the back of his mind.


    Inparison, his "Golden Finger" was perhaps his greatest reliance on bing stronger, right?


    After securing the booklet of the Arhat Fist, Jiang Liu returned to his Zen Room and went to bed fully clothed.


    After practicing martial arts all night, lying on the hard wooden bed left his body exhausted, which dispelled much of his restless thoughts, and soon, he fell into a deep sleep.


    The night passed without further incident, and following the crowing of the rooster, Jiang Liu woke up feeling unusually refreshed from his sleep after practicing martial arts.


    After getting up and washing up, taking advantage of the faint light of dawn, Jiang Liu was about to head to the kitchen to get busy. While folding his quilt, he saw the booklet on his bed, casually picked it up, and flipped through it.


    Sure enough, it was a handwritten copy by Senior Brother Xuankong, with some breathing techniques written and several simple Arhat Fist stances illustrated.


    How should I put it? Senior Brother Xuankong''s drawings were quite abstract. If it wasn''t for having practiced along the previous night for two Chinese Hours, he definitely couldn''t have made out what the Arhat Fist stances meant.


    Notification: Do you want to spend 1 skill point to learn the Arhat Fist?


    Just as Jiang Liu was flipping through the Arhat Fist booklet, suddenly, a system notification appeared.


    The sudden notification stunned Jiang Liu, then filled him with great joy.


    He indeedcked talent in martial arts. If taught through direct instruction, he could hardly learn anything, but if the martial arts were written down, turned into a martial arts manual or, in other words, a skill book, could he instantly learn them by spending skill points?


    "Is this true? Besides the skill books dropped by the system, can other skill books also be learned by spending skill points?"


    "In a way, it turns out I am a martial arts prodigy too!"

 Chapter 14 Shadows

    ```


    Arhat Fist (Primary Level): Increases own attack power by 15%, duration 150 seconds.


    After using 1 Skill Point to instantly learn the Arhat Fist technique, Jiang Liu could clearly see the skill description of Arhat Fist.


    Although it was just a status skill, Jiang Liu knew very well that it was his only offensive skill at the moment.


    Before his ss change to the Immovable Ming King, his means of attack were far too few.


    Now at level 4, having learned Silencing Zen and Arhat Fist with skill points, Jiang Liu pondered for a moment and then invested another skill point into Arhat Fist, elevating the skill to a middle level.


    Indeed, with the increase in skill level, the effects had also improved greatly.


    Arhat Fist (Middle Level): Increases own attack power by 20%, duration 180 seconds.


    After the skill reached the middle level, not only did the attack power bonus increase, but the duration of the status also extended, which made Jiang Liu nod in satisfaction.


    After a brief consideration, he decided against enhancing Arhat Fist to a high level.


    Since the martial arts from the real world could be improved with skill points, it seemed necessary to save some skill points for ordinary times.


    Besides, as the skill points were on his person, if he found himself in a critical situation, he could always upgrade his skills at any time.


    Having learned an offensive skill, Jiang Liu stepped out of his Zen Room with some anticipation, looked around, and promptly selected a stone the size of a paving brick.


    Jiang Liu thought for a moment and threw a punch at the stone.


    There was a smack; Jiang Liu felt a rebound pain in his fist, but a crack also appeared on the stone.


    At level 4, his strength had increased quite a bit, being able to crack a stone, which was clearly not something an ordinary person could do.


    After properly testing his normal attack power, Jiang Liu nodded to himself and then activated the Arhat Fist state.


    To the naked eye, a faint golden glow flowed between his hands for a moment, which reminded Jiang Liu of the scene when Senior Brother Xuankong fought the Snow Rabbit Demon that day.


    At that time, Senior Brother Xuankong''s hands were glowing with golden light, probably due to this Arhat Fist state, right?


    With the enhancement of the Arhat Fist state, Jiang Liu could feel a slight stiffness in his fist, as if he were wearing a pair of gauntlets made of refined steel.


    Then, Jiang Liu raised his fist and hit therge stone in front of him hard again.


    There was a crack, and the stone that already had a crack split apart instantly under his fist.


    The force of this punch was like swinging a heavy sledgehammer down hard.


    "Hmm, pretty good. With the boost from Arhat Fist, even if I encounter some fierce beasts, I''ll have the power to fight..."


    Seeing that he had split a stone with a single punch, Jiang Liu felt a new confidence in his strength.


    At least, if he encountered any poisonous insects or fierce beasts in the future, he would not be devoid of means to fight.


    Over the next three days, Jiang Liu felt the time flew by. In the mornings, he was busy with odd jobs at the temple, and if there was nothing else in the afternoons, he would go to the back hill to meet Gaoyang. Each time Jiang Liu went, he also sneakily carried a food container to bring Gaoyang meals.


    Their rtionship warmed up quickly, as is often the case with young lovers, wishing they could spend every second together.


    In the back hill, there were many animals, from small ones like rabbits and pheasants to more threatening bears and fierce tigers.


    In this ancient ne of existence, everything seemed very primal, and the variety of wildlife was far beyond anything in modern society.


    These days, working and spending sweet moments with Gaoyang, the two of them would also team up to fight monsters and level up, living a quitefortable life.


    After three days of monster fighting and leveling up, Jiang Liu also discovered an important matter.


    ```


    ```


    When in a team fight against monsters, if one took initiative in attacking, a monster whose health bar emptied would not die but be severely injured and fall unconscious.


    In this state, if another strike was delivered, it would undoubtedly be fatal.


    Conversely, for those threatening targets thatunched an attack on their own initiative, an emptied health bar meant death.


    It was just like the difference between the Snow Rabbit Demon in the vegetable garden and the Wolf Demon that attacked him initially.


    This discovery made Jiang Liu feel that the game system seemed quite humane.


    After all, this real world was not an online game; monsters that were killed couldn''t respawn, so for the monsters he attacked proactively, he''d stop after knocking them out, possibly to farm them multiple timester?


    Tip: Gained 120 Experience Points, earned 15 copper coins.


    With the system prompt, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang joined forces to defeat another hefty python, and simultaneously, a refreshing sensation surged within their bodies, spreading to their limbs, as if they woke up on a hot summer day and took a cool shower, feelingpletely rxed andfortable.


    Jiang Liu was well aware that he had leveled up to 5.


    Looking at the sky, it was gettingte. After three days of leveling up, he finally reached level 5. Jiang Liu waved his hand and said goodbye to Gaoyang, "It''s gettingte, I''m heading back first."


    "Okay, see you tomorrow," hearing the farewell, Gaoyang''s delicate face showed reluctance, but she didn''t say much more.


    With the Incense Offering Ceremony just a few days away, Gaoyang was also looking forward to the day it was over so she could live with Jiang Liu openly and rightfully.


    After saying goodbye to each other, Gaoyang turned and left. Jiang Liu watched her go before searching the python''s body and finding fifteen copper coins.


    Unfortunately, besides the money, there were no other drops, not even a single potion.


    Although he had been hunting with Gaoyang these past days, Jiang Liu had always kept this aspect of item drops from her.


    It wasn''t a deliberate concealment but rather that this matter was just too irrational.


    Moreover, doesn''t everyone have their little secrets unknown to others? Even between spouses, Jiang Liu believed, Gaoyang would have her own as well.


    For example, what exactly was Gaoyang''s identity? For as long as they had known each other, she had never mentioned her family situation.


    For example, why was she alone in the back mountains of Jinshan Temple? She never exined that either.


    But Jiang Liu didn''t intend to pry.


    Respecting each other''s secrets and not delving too deep was the key to a more rxed and natural rtionship. When the time was right, Jiang Liu believed Gaoyang would naturally tell him everything.


    After collecting the copper coins, Jiang Liu also returned to Jinshan Temple with a spring in his step and prepared dinner.


    After busying himself with his tasks, Jiang Liu returned to his Zen Room and took out the Vajra Mantra Skill Book to study it directly.


    Vajra Mantra (Primary Level): Summons the mystical power of Vajra to bless a friendly target, reducing the damage of the next hit by 80%, with a cooldown of 50 seconds.


    Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction concerning the Vajra Mantra''s effect.


    With this Vajra Mantra skill, whether for himself or when teaming up with Gaoyang, their safety margin would significantly increase.


    But let''s not speak of Jiang Liu''s side, who was full of anticipation about wandering the world with Gaoyang as a justice-serving, monster-ying leveling-up couple; some ten miles away from Jinshan Temple, in a mountain ravine, there was a den of bandits.


    That night, the banditir was aze with fire, and a man with a scarred face was seated on a tiger skin with an authoritative pose.


    In front of him, two fierce-looking men approached.


    "Big brother, we''ve scoped it out clearly. The little monk from Jinshan Temple goes to the back mountain alone every afternoon. That''s the perfect opportunity for us to strike."


    "Heh heh, good, just a little monk. Easy pickings, and we''ll thirty silver just like that."


    ```

 Chapter 15 The Perilous Nature of Human Hearts

    After lunch, Jiang Liu, with Sandalwood Buddha Beads around his neck, strode eagerly to the back mountain, unsure whether he was more excited to meet Gaoyang or to battle creatures and earn experience, striving to boost his own strength.


    The main function of the Sandalwood Buddha Beads was to enhance the effects of Buff skills, but unfortunately, the three skills Jiang Liu had learned, Silencing Zen, Arhat Fist, and Vajra Mantra, were not Buff-type.


    Therefore, for Jiang Liu, the primary importance of the Sandalwood Buddha Beadsy in their apanying skill effects.


    The silent forest was crisp and clear, making one feel refreshed and joyful while walking through it.


    Unknown wildflowers bloomed alongside the path, birds chirped merrily on branches, and asionally, one could see a few squirrels and even monkeys leaping from limb to limb, creating a serene and natural scene.


    Ouch...Ouch...


    However, just as Jiang Liu was briskly walking forward, sudden low moans caught his attention.


    Following the sound, he saw a woman in her thirties lying on the ground with a medicine basket on her back, containing several unidentified herbs. Judging by the bloodstains on her legs, she was already injured.


    "Big sister, how are you?", upon seeing an injured person in the wilderness, Jiang Liu naturally couldn''t turn a blind eye and quickened his pace to approach her.


    "Little Monk, Ie from Jinshan Vige at the foot of the mountain. My husband is ill, and I came up to gather some herbs for him. Can you help me down the mountain?", the woman''s face was filled with pleading.


    The woman''s words slightly hesitated Jiang Liu.


    At this time, Gaoyang should still be waiting for him at the usual spot, right? But, to just leave the woman here? He couldn''t bring himself to do that.


    After a brief hesitation, Jiang Liu nodded and bent down to help the woman up.


    Snap!


    But just as he barely lifted the woman from the ground, a fierce gleam shed in her eyes, followed by a chopping motion of her hand heavily striking Jiang Liu''s neck, knocking him unconscious.


    "Truly a naive youngster...", the woman, with a smile of sessful deceit, looked at the unconscious Jiang Liu.


    Meanwhile, two burly men with knives appeared from the woods, their faces stern and eyes fierce, clearly up to no good.


    "We''ve got him, let''s go", the two bandits grinned as they looked at the unconscious Jiang Liu.


    Just a novice monk, and they had easily captured him, scoring thirty taels of silver almost effortlessly.


    "Who are they? They look like bandits or something simr. Why are they attacking me?", carried on the shoulder of one of the men, Jiang Liu secretly opened a slit of his eyes and muttered to himself.


    Indeed, Jiang Liu hadn''t actually passed out.


    Although the woman had chosen an opportune moment to strike and certainly caught Jiang Liu off guard, due to the game system, the moment the woman struck, the scene before Jiang Liu changed and a health bar appeared over her head, evidently entering abat state.


    Almost reflexively, Jiang Liu applied a Vajra Mantra defense on himself.


    Capable of negating 80% of damage, the woman''s chopping strike on his neck was ineffective, but Jiang Liu decided to pretend to be unconscious.


    The bandits'' motive was presumably just to rob, but what wealth could a novice monk from a rundown temple possibly possess?


    Since they hadn''t searched him after knocking him unconscious, it was clear they weren''t after his wealth.


    If it wasn''t for money, could it be for revenge?


    But as a novice monk who rarely left the temple, how could he have wronged anyone?


    If not for money or revenge, the most likely exnation was that they were hired by someone. Seeing that they had only knocked him unconscious without any intention of killing him, Jiang Liu felt this must be the case.


    Who exactly would want to hire bandits to attack him?


    Soon, a figure emerged in Jiang Liu''s mind: Esquire Zhang!


    It wasn''t that Jiang Liu was exceptionally clever, but rather that he had lived a cloistered life at Jinshan Temple. The only one with a motive against him was Esquire Zhang.


    "Indeed, no businessman is without deceit..." Thinking of this, Jiang Liu was nearly certain that Esquire Zhang was orchestrating things behind the scenes, his heart burning with anger.


    At first, he only wanted to cheat twenty silvers for his skill. Now, had he hired bandits to strike at him?


    Lying silently on the back of one of the bandits, Jiang Liu remained motionless, actually waiting for the cooldown of the Vajra Mantra skill.


    Surrendering without a fight was naturally out of the question. If he were really taken to the bandits''ir, there was no way he could escape. Thus, his only choice was to make a move on the road.


    The Vajra Mantra skill was a lifesaving one, indispensable inbat, so Jiang Liu quietly waited for the skill''s cooldown time to pass.


    A 50-second cooldown time was not short.


    For Jiang Liu, who had passed out, the three bandits¡ªtwo men and a woman¡ªwere obviously unguarded. Lying on the back of one bandit, Jiang Liu''s hands circted with a faint golden glow.


    In this critical life-and-death moment, Jiang Liu naturally could not be careless. The skill points he had reserved were instantly invested into the Arhat Fist skill, elevating it to a high level.


    Arhat Fist (High-Level): Increases attack power by 25%, duration 180 seconds.


    Everything ready, Jiang Liu abruptly made his move.


    His palms, radiating golden light, clutched the throat of the bandit carrying him. In a matter of life and death, he naturally showed no mercy, twisting his wrist.


    With a snap.


    A level 5 character, augmented by the Arhat Fist, Jiang Liu''s grasp was strong enough to twist even a wooden stick. As expected, the bandit''s throat was directly snapped.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, one could see the health bar above the bandit''s head instantly drop significantly, and it continued to fall.


    Though it was a game interface, after all, this was the real world. With his throat broken, the bandit was undoubtedly doomed.


    The bandit whose neck was twisted made a guttural noise twice, trying to scream, but unable to make a sound. Hey on the ground, struggling ceaselessly.


    "Audacious!" The sudden turn of events shocked the male and female bandits nearby, changing their expressions dramatically.


    In their eyes, the young novice monk should have been as harmless as a kitten, easy to capture. Indeed, the ease with which they had knocked him out seemed to prove their assumption.


    But who could have expected? This fellow, who had been knocked out, suddenlyshed out violently, giving them a fright.


    Where was this any kitten? It was more like a fierce tiger disguised as a harmless kitten!


    With a ng, the male bandit beside him quickly drew his long sword and chopped down at Jiang Liu. The de was swift and urgent, leaving no time to dodge.


    In this life-or-death situation, the bandit no longer cared about any so-called mission.


    Facing the overhead sh of therge sword, Jiang Liu maintained his Vajra Mantra stance and raised his hand to block.


    "Seeking death!" Seeing Jiang Liu actually using his hand to block his attack, the bandit felt ruthless.


    This sh was enough to sever his arm, wasn''t it?


    With a stter, blood shed.


    However, when the de struck Jiang Liu''s arm, it only left a shallow, superficial wound and was not serious.


    Clutching his sword, the bandit stared as his de, which had struck flesh and bone yet was resisted as if chopping on thick cowhide, his eyes filled with astonishment: "What is this? Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt!?"

 Chapter 16 Daring to Mess with the Lady Knights Man?

    The female bandit beside him reacted quickly as well, pulling a short dagger from her bosom and stabbing towards Jiang Liu.


    With the defense enhancement of the Vajra Mantra, he blocked the knife in front of him, but naturally, he couldn''t block the daggering from behind.


    However, there wasn''t much panic in Jiang Liu''s heart. Perhaps it was because he had umted somebat experience from fighting monsters and leveling up with Gaoyang these days, or maybe because he had already rehearsed the battle in his mind while pretending to be unconscious just now.


    Feeling the attack from the female bandit beside him, Jiang Liu quickly took off the Sandalwood Buddha Beads from around his neck with his other hand and activated the skill attached to the beads: Starry Sky Spread.


    One hundred and eight sandalwood Buddha Beads instantly transformed into a fan-shaped barrage, enveloping the rushing female bandit.


    The impact force of the Buddha Beads directly sent the female bandit flying.


    In the heat of the moment, a fist emanating a golden glow smashed down on the bandit in front of him.


    Although this bandit had spent years living on the edge of the knife and hisbat skills were decent, as a level 5 character,bined with the skill amplification of the Arhat Fist, and having just witnessed the spectacle of being immune to des and spears, the bandit waspletely outmatched and taken by surprise.


    Bang, bang, bang.


    Arhat Fist, punch after punchnded on the bandit, and after several consecutive strikes, the bandity on the ground, struggling for a few moments before bing motionless.


    Prompt: Gained 95 Experience Points, gained 10 copper coins.


    Prompt: Gained 120 Experience Points, gained 13 copper coins.


    Almost at the same time, the system''s prompts appeared, signifying that Jiang Liu had dealt with both targets. Immediately, his gaze turned to the female bandit beside him.


    "You, you¡­" Watching Jiang Liu''s gaze, the female bandit''s face showed a horrified expression, and she stepped back.


    No one expected that this Novice Monk could be so ruthless in his actions.


    Nor did they expect him to have such high martial arts skills, having defeated twopanions in the blink of an eye.


    "Why did you attack me? We have no grudges between us, right?" With only thest female bandit remaining, Jiang Liu didn''t rush to act but instead looked at her and asked.


    "If I tell you, will you let me go?" The female bandit nced at her twopanions lying on the ground and swallowed hard.


    "As long as you tell me, I am willing to let you go. Rest assured, a person who has left home does not lie, Amitabha Buddha," Jiang Liu said calmly with his hands joined together, even softly chanting a Buddhist mantra.


    The identity of a person who has left home is somewhat trustworthy, and more importantly, she didn''t have many options left.


    The female bandit hesitated briefly before speaking, "It was Esquire Zhang from Jinshan Vige. He paid thirty taels of silver for us to capture you alive for him."


    "Just as I thought..." Jiang Liu wasn''t surprised since he had already suspected it; it merely confirmed his guess.


    "I''ll ask you again, what''s the situation with your bandit stronghold? Where is it, and how many people are there?" After understanding the situation, Jiang Liu continued to inquire.


    "What do you want with that info? What are you nning to do?" The question made the female bandit watch him warily.


    "You just need to answer me," Jiang Liu said sternly, his expression darkening.


    "No, I won''t tell," Jiang Liu''s questioning clearly had no good intentions, and the female bandit shook her head with a resolute expression.


    "If you refuse to talk, then it''s time for you to go," Since she was unwilling to speak, Jiang Liu didn''t insist on forcing her, picked up the knife from the ground, and chopped towards the female bandit.


    Because he had taken the initiative to strike, the three bandits, two men and one woman, didn''t die after their health bars were depleted; they justy on the ground, motionless, having fallen into a dyinga.


    After a slight hesitation, Jiang Liu raised the knife in his hand and, one by one, delivered a final blow to kill the three people.


    It wasn''t that he was naturally bloodthirsty, but when others were about to act against him, was he still expected to hold onto the heart of mercy?


    Even if he spared these few bandits now, would they be willing to spare him in the future?


    Killing three people in one breath wasn''t like ying demon creatures; they were living, breathing humans. Looking at the three corpses before him, Jiang Liu felt his stomach churn.


    He tossed the knife aside, leaned against a tree, and retched. After a long while, he had nearly vomited up stomach acid.


    Although he had killed many wild beasts and even demon creatures these days, this was his first time taking the life of another human being.


    Although he didn''t regret his actions, the first kill was still hard to endure.


    After a long time, Jiang Liu''s emotions finally began to settle, and then he walked over to the corpses and picked up the copper coins they were lying on.


    Killing three people onlyted him about 300 Experience Points; clearly, the strength of these three bandits wasn''t strong.


    However, apart from some copper coins, Jiang Liu found that a weapon had also dropped.


    Ancient Ebony Stick (Ordinary Quality): Requires level 5, Attack Power +25, Durability 8/10.


    Looking at the stick, which was somewhat worn, the data information also appeared before his eyes. With a 25-point increase in Attack Power, he was quite satisfied; as expected of a primary weapon, it was significantly better than the White Jade Ring from Gaoyang, which added 10 Attack Power.


    Jiang Liu secretly hoped that if he could drop Fine Quality, Perfect Quality, or even Legendary Quality and Epic Quality equipment in the future, what would the added Attack Power be like?


    Shaking his head, he momentarily put those thoughts aside and looked at the three bodies on the ground, then picked up a knife beside him and started digging a hole.


    These people had wanted to harm him, but after all, the dead deserved respect, and leaving bodies exposed in the wilderness was not right.


    As he dug the hole with the knife, his gaze also fell on the knife.


    Just like the stick, the data information for the knife also appeared before his eyes.


    Knife (Ordinary Quality): Attack Power +3, Durability 7/10.


    "Only a 3-point increase in Attack Power? Are the equipment drops from the game of better quality? Or is it because this knife is simply a low-level weapon, evencking a level requirement?" While digging the hole, Jiang Liu murmured to himself.


    "Hey, Jiang Liu? What happened here?" Just as Jiang Liu was sweating profusely digging graves for the bodies, a familiar female voice arose.


    Seeing the three corpses on the ground, Gaoyang also got a bit of a fright and asked Jiang Liu.


    As usual, waiting for him at the usual spot, but when he didn''t show up after a long time today, Gaoyang took the initiative toe and look for him.


    She hadn''t expected to find this scene.


    Jiang Liu stopped what he was doing and had no intention of hiding anything. He simply told her the cause and effect of the incident.


    Upon learning the ins and outs of the situation and realizing that Jiang Liu had almost been killed, Gaoyang furrowed her brows and her pretty face darken with anger.


    "Hmph, what a treacherous merchant, daring toy a hand on this woman warrior''s man?"

 Chapter 17 Dumbfounded

    Gaoyang''s temperament was frank and straightforward, akin to that of a heroine. Upon learning what had happened to Jiang Liu, she naturally filled with rage toward Esquire Zhang of Jinshan Vige.


    Regardless of her rtionship with Jiang Liu, even if Jiang Liu had been aplete stranger, she would not have stood idly by if she had known about the incident.


    Jiang Liu was not surprised by Gaoyang''s reaction. After all, they had known each other for many days and had spent some time together. He had some understanding of her heroic nature.


    It wasn''t just Gaoyang who felt angry, Jiang Liu himself was irritated as well.


    The thought of the unkind rich man brought to Jiang Liu''s mind the phrase: "Wealth does not breed benevolence." He reflexively thought of this term regarding Esquire Zhang from the vige below the mountain.


    At the same time, he also recalled the incident from a few days ago when Senior Brother Xuanwu had descended the mountain to help the Zhang family''s resentful spirit. Could it be that his family''s haunting was not a mere ident?


    Could it be that he had done something that vited the natural order?


    After all, there''s amon saying: "Those who have done no wrong do not fear ghosts knocking at their door."


    "Jiang Liu, let''s go down the mountain," Gaoyang dered with righteous indignation, seemingly eager to right wrongs. She grabbed Jiang Liu and headed down the mountain.


    "Wait, let''s talk about thister..." However, as Gaoyang was pulling him down the mountain, Jiang Liu shook his head and spoke.


    "What, are you chickening out? If you are, I, this heroine, will go by myself," Gaoyang turned to look at Jiang Liu with a displeased expression.


    "It doesn''t seem right to do this in broad daylight. I''ll be leaving the monastic life soon, but if I just leave like this, won''t it affect the other people in the temple?" Jiang Liu analyzed as he looked at Gaoyang.


    If one is to act on something, they should consider the consequences. Would he, who acts on impulse, involve the temple in his actions? Jiang Liu could not do such a thing.


    Sure enough, after listening to Jiang Liu''s analysis, Gaoyang hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly.


    Through her interactions with Jiang Liu over these days, Gaoyang also knew that Jinshan Temple was just a rundown little monastery. Such vengeful actions under the light of day could indeed have a negative impact on Jinshan Temple.


    "Alright then, we''ll go tonight," she nodded, forcibly suppressing her eagerness to deliver justice.


    They spent the afternoon together, chatting and ying monsters, and time passed quickly.


    Unlike before, when it was Gaoyang taking the lead and Jiang Liu merely assisting, that afternoon with an ebony stick in hand and the power of the Arhat Fist to boost him, Jiang Liu was not weak when he made his move.


    With a thrust of his stick, even a piece of green rock would crack open. The power to split stones and break tablets seemed to be no weaker than what Senior Brother Xuankong had demonstrated that night.


    "Jiang Liu, you truly are a martial arts prodigy!" Gaoyang, who had been with Jiang Liu for several days and deeply felt the improvement in his strength, spoke with a look of surprise on her face.


    "It''s alright¡­" Jiang Liu smiled modestly, but there was a secret joy in his heart.


    The Arhat Fistbined with the ebony stick offered a significant boost to his attack power. Looking at attack power alone, he was already more than a match for any ordinary demon.


    "It''s gettingte. Let''s meet at the foot of the mountain when the hour of Wu and Hai ovep," Jiang Liu said as he looked at the sky.


    The ovep of Wu and Hai would be around 9 p.m. modern time.


    For ancient times without much in the way of entertainment, people would have mostly been asleep by this time.


    "Alright," Gaoyang nodded in agreement and then turned to leave.


    Watching Gaoyang''s figure disappear into the distance, Jiang Liu also folded back to Jinshan Temple.


    But upon entering the temple, Jiang Liu did not rush to the kitchen to cook, instead, he sought out Senior Abbot Faming, and at the same time, Senior Brother Xuankong was unexpectedly also present.


    Fortunately, Senior Brother Xuankong was the protective martial monk of the temple, and it was indeed necessary to inform him of the matter.


    "Liu''er, what''s the matter?" Senior Abbot Faming, still with his kind and benevolent expression, nced unobtrusively at Jiang Liu''s ebony stick and asked with a smile.


    "Abbot, there has been an incident," Jiang Liu did not beat around the bush, briefly and sinctly recounting his encounter with bandits in the back mountain earlier that day.


    "Esquire Zhang''s nature is so vicious? To seek your Salt Refining Technique, he actually colluded with bandits to kidnap you?" Abbot Faming''s face darkened slightly, his eyebrows knitting together.


    "Hmph!" Senior Brother Xuankong did not speak, but let out a cold snort, clearly expressing his stance.


    Although Jinshan Temple was merely a dpidated small temple, it was not a ce that could be bullied at will.


    What''s more, he was the protective martial monk of the temple, yet Jiang Liu had almost fallen victim to someone''s scheme; Xuankong naturally felt he had neglected his duty.


    "Abbot, I have no other intention in saying this, I just want everyone to be more vignt. Those bandits mighte to seek revenge," Jiang Liu followed up his recount of the assault with a reminder.


    "Seek revenge? Liu''er, those bandits who attacked you, they¡­"


    Abbot Faming and Senior Brother Xuankong initially thought Jiang Liu had simply been lucky to escape from the bandits, but upon hearing "seek revenge," both were startled, realizing something.


    "During my resistance, I went too far and identally killed a few of them," Jiang Liu scratched his head, speaking somewhat awkwardly and embarrassedly.


    "You, a Novice Monk, how could you have ovee those fierce bandits?" Abbot Faming asked, looking at Jiang Liu in astonishment.


    Just a fifteen-year-old boy, who had lived in the temple since childhood, Faming thought he knew him well, yet Jiang Liu had unexpectedly in several fierce bandits, which was shocking.


    Facing the Abbot''s query, Jiang Liu hesitated slightly and nced at Senior Brother Xuankong before stretching out his hands.


    A golden glow swirled between Jiang Liu''s palms, a sign of the Arhat Fist being deployed: "Abbot, please forgive me. I previously spied on Senior Brother Xuankong practicing martial arts and secretly learned some."


    Watching the golden glow between Jiang Liu''s palms, Abbot Faming was taken aback. The bright radiance indicated that the Arhat Fist had been trained to a highly profound level.


    Although not a martial monk, Abbot Faming had a keen eye, and judging from the brightness of the glow, Jiang Liu''s secretly learned Arhat Fist appeared to even surpass that of Xuankong?


    How long had he secretly learned it to achieve such sess? Could he be a martial prodigy?


    Faming''s heart was secretly shaken and amazed, while Senior Brother Xuankong''s eyes widened, looking at Jiang Liu''s hands, then back to Jiang Liu''s slightly youthful face, with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.


    Abbot Faming might have thought that Jiang Liu had been secretly learning the Arhat Fist for some time, but Xuankong was very aware that he had only passed on the Arhat Fist to him secretly for a mere few days, hadn''t he?

 Chapter 18 Gratifying Grudges

    ```


    Although surprised at Jiang Liu''s mastery of the Arhat Fist, he was, after all, guilty of secretly learning martial arts, so Senior Abbot Faming still imposed a mild punishment to serve as a severe warning. He assigned Jiang Liu the next few days'' work of irrigating the fields.


    Jiang Liu raised no objections to this punishment¡ªhe was well aware that Jinshan Temple was just a small temple with few people and thus had fewer rules. In other more popr temples, the punishment would definitely not have been so lenient.


    As for the matter of bandit retaliation, naturally, Senior Abbot Faming and Xuankong had a brief discussion and decided to be on guard against the bandits'' revenge in theing days.


    And as for Esquire Zhang from the foot of the mountain? He was just an ordinary person, after all. Once they dealt with these bandits, they would go down the mountain to seek a resolution.


    Having reminded of what needed to be said, and with nothing else to attend to, Jiang Liu took his leave.


    However, just as he stepped out of the abbot''s Zen Room, Jiang Liu was only a few steps away when Senior Brother Xuankong stopped him.


    "Liu''er, tell your senior brother honestly, have you really never practiced Arhat Fist before?" Xuankong asked seriously, holding Jiang Liu back.


    Jiang Liu didn''t answer, just looked back at him, keeping silent.


    "Ah, all right. You''d better go and get busy," Xuankong said with a long sigh, after staring at Jiang Liu for quite a while and then waving his hand dismissively.


    Xuankong knew his question was pointless; Jiang Liu had grown up in the temple from childhood to adulthood, so how could Xuankong not know whether he had secretly learned his Arhat Fist?


    Besides, that night when he secretly taught Jiang Liu the Arhat Fist, it was clear that the boy had no foundation in martial arts whatsoever.


    It was just that, even though he had practiced Arhat Fist for ten years, his decade of achievement couldn''tpare to Jiang Liu''s few days of cultivation. This fact was hard for him to ept.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xuankong, for your teaching," Jiang Liu said, his hands pressed together in a sign of gratitude as he bowed respectfully to Xuankong.


    Perhaps the Arhat Fist might not mean much to him in the future, but at present, this skill was quite useful to him.


    Of course, what weighed even more heavily was Senior Brother Xuankong''s kindness and care for him.


    "Well, no matter what, Liu''er, the fact that you have such a gift for martial arts is a reason to rejoice. I''m not worried anymore that you''ll be bullied in the future," Xuankong said, visibly relieved after Jiang Liu earnestly thanked him. He helped Jiang Liu rise and then turned to leave.


    Watching Senior Brother Xuankong walk away, still somewhat dispirited, Jiang Liu could roughly understand his feelings.


    Turning back, he went to the kitchen, where he deftly prepared dinner as if it was routine for him.


    Ordinarily, Senior Brother Xuankong didn''t talk much, so neither Xuanwu nor Xuanming noticed anything unusual about him at the dinner table.


    After supper, everyone went their separate ways. Jiang Liu tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and then returned to his own Zen Room.


    He took out a cloth and sat quietly on his wooden bed, meticulously wiping an old ebony stick with the utmost care.


    In contemting his impending visit to Esquire Zhang''s ce to seek revenge, Jiang Liu''s feelings wereplicated¡ªhe was both eager for vengeance and fraught with trepidation.


    If it were up to him, as someone from a modern,wful society, he would prefer not to resort to violence to solve problems.


    But having been transported to this uncivilized ancient world, where vigers would collude with bandits for profit andmit murder for wealth, he knew that showing weakness would only lead to being bullied in the future.


    To endure might bring temporary calm, but such situations were, after all, the minority.


    More often than not, enduring leads to further encroachment!


    After all, even the Buddhist Sect, which always boasts kindness andpassion, has its moments of wrathful Vajra, doesn''t it?


    ```


    Devoid of any inkling of sleep and estimating that the time was about right, Jiang Liu securely fastened the sandalwood Buddha beads around his neck, tightly gripped his ebony stick, and carefully pushed open the door of the Zen Room, descending the mountain.


    The hill where Jinshan Temple was located was but a minor peak. Following the faint moonlight, within a short half hour, he had already reached the foot of the mountain.


    In the moonlight, a beautiful silhouette could be seen already waiting there¡ªit was Gaoyang.


    ...


    Down the mountain, resided Jinshan Vige.


    A small courtyard, belonging to Esquire Zhang, was set amidst the vige, possibly the only home within Jinshan Vige to boast a yard of its own.


    The courtyard gate faced south, with living quarters and guest rooms on the east and west sides for amodating guests and maids, while the main house sitting facing north was where Esquire Zhang and his family resided.


    However, on this day, an unexpected visitor hade to Esquire Zhang''s home¡ªa novice monk, appearing to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a monastic robe the color of crescent moon white, holding a Demon-Subduing Pestle in his hand, and with a serene expression, he arrived at Esquire Zhang''s ce and lightly knocked on the courtyard door.


    "Who''s there? Who isn''t sleeping in the middle of the night...", amidst the silent wilderness, apanying the knock, a male voice sounded from within the courtyard; momentster, the door was opened, and a servant peeked out.


    "Benefactor, this humble monk is from Daming Temple, here to attend the Incense Offering Ceremony at Great Buddha Temple and seeks shelter for the night," the young monk said politely with his hands sped together.


    "You wait here, little monk, while I go and inform the master of the house," the servant nodded, taking note of the monk''s attire which seemed out of the ordinary, and then withdrew his head.


    Shortly after, the courtyard door was opened again, and Esquire Zhang, dressed casually, stepped out.


    After sizing up the monk, he shook his head and said, "Little monk, it''s not that I am unwilling to shelter you, but I have women in my family, which really makes it inconvenient. You should try elsewhere, and, by the way, there is a Jinshan Temple on the mountain, you..."


    However, before Esquire Zhang could finish, the young monk picked up a small stone from the corner of the wall.


    With a slight exertion of his fingers, the stone instantly split into several fragments and fell: "Benefactor, please grant this amodation, and you will surely receive blessings in the future."


    "Hiss...", shocked by the little monk''s finger strength, Esquire Zhang drew in a breath of cold air and quickly changed his tune: "Master, pleasee in. I will have a guest room prepared for you right away."


    "Then I shall impose," the young monk casually threw away the stone and, still serene and polite, entered on the invitation of Esquire Zhang.


    ...


    The night was deep.


    Jiang Liu and Gaoyang walked hand in hand, entering into the midst of Jinshan Vige. Although Jiang Liu had traveled through time and had note down the mountain before, he knew that Esquire Zhang''s house was the wealthiest in Jinshan Vige.


    In Jinshan Vige of merely a hundred or so households, after a brief search, they found the best-looking house, which was presumably Esquire Zhang''s home.


    Since they hade to cause trouble, there was no reason to knock and enter. With a light leap, Gaoyang agilely vaulted over the walls of the courtyard and jumped inside. Then, he quietly opened the gate, and the two of them stealthily infiltrated the premises without making a sound.


    Although arge dog in the yard was startled awake by their movements, before it could even bark, a cold light shed.


    Gaoyang''s flying dagger urately thrust into the dog''s mouth, nailing it dead.


    Notification: You have gained 10 Experience Points and 4 coins.


    Ignoring the game system''s notification, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang silently snuck into the main house.

 Chapter 19 The Young Monk Daoji

    ```


    Since they had chosen toe at night, naturally, they had no intention of causing amotion. After dealing with the guard dogs, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang quietly pried open the doortch of the main house and walked in.


    In the master bedroom, Esquire Zhang was sound asleep, embracing a young and beautiful woman, while his legal wife was sleeping alone in the adjacent side bedroom.


    Gaoyang made his move, putting both the wife and concubine into a deep slumber, and then woke Esquire Zhang.


    Esquire Zhang,ing to his senses, realized that there were two strangers in his room. Shocked, he attempted to cry out loudly.


    However, the cold touch of a Flying Dagger pressed against his throat while Gaoyang, with a low and intentionally fierce voice, said, "Don''t yell, or my hand might just slip."


    Feeling the icy sensation of the Flying Dagger at his throat, Esquire Zhang''s heart skipped a beat. The words he had opened his mouth to shout were immediately swallowed back, his voice trembling, "Both of you, let''s talk this out. If it''s money you want, I''m willing to give five silver taels, no, ten..."


    As Esquire Zhang spoke, Jiang Liu lit the oilmp on the table, and the faint light dispersed the darkness within the room.


    Lamp in hand, Jiang Liu approached Esquire Zhang.


    "Jiang, Jiang Liu, is that you!?" Esquire Zhang eximed in rm, seeing Jiang Liu approach with themp.


    A Novice Monk that had grown up in Jinshan Temple, now breaking into his residence in the dead of night with a weapon¡ªthis was something Esquire Zhang had never imagined.


    "It seems that Esquire Zhang''s life isn''t worth much," Jiang Liu said calmly as he held themp and moved closer to Esquire Zhang, "To catch me, you were willing to pay thirty silver taels and collude with bandits, but to save your own life, you''re only willing to pay ten?"


    "How, how did you..." Jiang Liu''s words pierced right through his collusion with the bandits, leaving Esquire Zhang staring at him in astonishment.


    Could it be that he had underestimated the fifteen-year-old boy?


    Since Jiang Liu mentioned the thirty silver taels and the bandits, it was clear that he had already investigated thoroughly. Esquire Zhang realized it was pointless to deny it any further and quickly admitted his mistake.


    "Master Jiang Liu, my apologies, I was blinded by greed. I beg your pardon; I am willing to give you the thirty silver taels to make amends for my fault. Monks are known for theirpassion. Please, Master, on ount of our being fellow townspeople, forgive me."


    Esquire Zhang wept bitterly, the very picture of remorse as he begged for mercy.


    His words appeared sincere, offering thirty silver taels and appealing to Jiang Liu''s status in the Buddhist Sect while also ying the card of their shared hometown affiliation.


    If one were slightly softer-hearted, seeing his tearful anguish might make it difficult to continue troubling him.


    The thirty silver taels truly pained Esquire Zhang, but when faced with the threat to his life, the silver lost its value.


    Esquire Zhang was aware of the situation at Jinshan Temple¡ªthirty silver taels should be enough to sway the other party.


    By offering money and admitting his error in earnest, as long as he could stabilize the situation, he should be fine, or so he thought. The immediate crisis was the primary concern.


    For a fifteen-year-old youth, fiery with the vigour of youth, who knew what he might do in a real fury? Esquire Zhang had no intention of gambling with his life.


    Yet, while Esquire Zhang''s thoughts and choices weren''t bad, Jiang Liu did not seem swayed at all.


    "What, you think I''m here for the money?" Jiang Liu said.


    ```


    Jiang Liu was very clear about his purpose, he was here for revenge, not for wealth.


    "You, do you really have to be so ruthless? Aren''t you afraid that Senior Abbot Faming will punish you?" Jiang Liu''s attitude startled Esquire Zhang, who had moved on from pleading to invoking Senior Abbot Faming''s name.


    Monks arepassionate at heart, even if they are at fault, a sincere apology, he believed, would surely not be met with approval from Faming for a vengeful killing, right?


    "He who kills, will be killed in turn. Since you''d decided to collude with bandits against me, naturally, you should be prepared for the possibility of failure and my subsequent revenge.


    You are an adult now; everyone must take responsibility for their own actions," Jiang Liu said without any intention of wasting words, his gaze fixed on Esquire Zhang as he lifted the ebony stick beside him, murder intent emanating instantly.


    "Amitabha, monks should harborpassion. Since this benefactor has sincerely repented, why should this younger brother wallow in hatred? As the saying goes, ''Lay down the butcher knife, and you will achieve Buddhahood on the spot''."


    However, before Jiang Liu could smash the ebony stick down, suddenly, a chant of Buddha''s name sounded, and a young monk clothed in crescent white entered the scene.


    Jiang Liu and this monk both looked very young, like teenagers around fifteen or sixteen years of age.


    However, Jiang Liu was dressed in a tattered grey-white monk''s robe, while the iing monk wore an affluent crescent white robe that was quite imposing.


    "Great master, save me!" Seeing the young monk enter, Esquire Zhang''s eyes lit up, and he called out joyfully.


    The image of the monk casually crushing a rock when he had sought lodging seemed just like yesterday; it seemed possible that he might be the one to save him.


    "Who are you?" Jiang Liu frowned slightly as he watched the young monk step forward.


    At first nce, the young monk exuded an extraordinary presence; handsome, well-dressed, and dignified, clearly not your average monk¡ªprobably from a major temple.


    Compared to him, it seemed Jiang Liu''s only advantage was his good looks.


    "This humble monk is Daoji from Daming Temple. I am here for the annual Incense Offering Ceremony at Great Buddha Temple. Having overheard some of the grievances between you two, since this benefactor has sincerely repented, why not give him a chance?" spoke the young monk eloquently and politely.


    "Daoji? Could this be Ji Gong?" Jiang Liu couldn''t help but scoff inwardly.


    Of course, that wasn''t possible; the legendary monk Ji Gong wasn''t from the Tang Dynasty.


    "You are unreasonable. We both are participating in this year''s Incense Offering Ceremony, so we should be peers. I grew up in a temple since childhood; who is the senior and who is the junior between us is still unclear."


    Jiang Liu''s gazended on the other party, pausing for a moment, then he continued, "Easier said than done, I understand the concept of achieving Buddhahood byying down the butcher knife, and I also understand thepassionate heart of a monk; however, having not experienced another''s suffering, don''t be quick to preach magnanimity to them."


    "Amitabha, it seems the younger brother is deeply entrenched in his obsession. Well, if you have a grudge against this benefactor and wish to seek vengeance, it cannot be considered unjust. But since this benefactor has shown me a kindness, I cannot just stand by idly. If that''s the case, I am willing to engage in a match with the younger brother to see our respective demon subduing techniques."


    "I''ve said it before, I am the senior!" Jiang Liu retorted as he raised the ebony stick in his hand, a dazzling golden light shining between his hands.


    As the light merged into the ebony stick, he aimed it at his opponent, striking first to gain the upper hand.


    "Amitabha, Arhat Fist? Excellent. This humble monk also has some knowledge of it..." Daoji murmured as he saw the golden light emanating from Jiang Liu''s palms.


    It was uncertain whether it was an illusion, but as the sound of a dragon''s chant arose, the golden light in Daoji''s palms subtly transformed into dragon-shaped phantoms, wrapping around his fists.


    Confronting the ebony stick pointed by Jiang Liu, Daoji faced it head-on with his fists aglow with brilliant golden light.

 Chapter 20 Another Piece of Fine Equipment

    The levels of skills are generally divided into four categories: Primary Level, Middle Level, High-Level, and Great Perfection.


    After investing three Skill Points, as the sole offensive technique, the Arhat Fist had reached the High-Level, granting a 25% increase in Attack Power for 180 seconds. Paired with the amplification from the Ebony Stick, when he swung it, a barrage of shadows spread out as if it were an Iron Stick, capable of splitting stone and cleaving tablets effortlessly.


    Daoji seemed to be of a simr age to Jiang Liu, and he also cultivated the Arhat Fist, but even though hecked a weapon, the golden glow of his fists, loosely wrapped by the shadow of a dragon, seemed to pack more power than Jiang Liu''s.


    Upon contact between stick and fist, Jiang Liu felt a numbing sensation in his wrists.


    "Is this guy better at cultivating the Arhat Fist than me, or is his Cultivation Level higher? Or is it both?" Jiang Liu mused privately, sensing that the other''s Arhat Fist was even stronger than his own.


    From the standpoint ofbat, Jiang Liu and Daoji were evenly matched.


    Despite theck of level and skill, having a weapon for amplification meant the oue of Daioji and Jiang Liu''s battle remained uncertain.


    An Arhat Fist came flying towards him, Jiang Liu dodged by tilting his head, avoiding the punch.


    However, when the punch hit the wall behind Jiang Liu, it resounded with a loud smack, spraying debris and leaving a deep imprint on the wall, causing Jiang Liu''s temples to twitch.


    With a swoosh, the golden Ebony Stick swept towards Daoji, casting a golden shadow.


    Daoji lightly stepped aside and twisted his body to dodge, and with a bang, the nearby table shattered instantly, making Daoji inhale sharply, his mind filled with wariness.


    Esquire Zhang, watching the ferociousness of Jiang Liu, turned pale.


    No one had expected a fifteen-year-old Novice Monk from Jinshan Temple to be so formidable. Had they known this, even with several more guts, they would not have dared to conspire with the bandits to oppose him.


    Gaoyang also watched Jiang Liu''s battle with some nervousness, but seeing that it was a dispute between two Buddhist Disciples, and it was decided to be a one-on-one fight, Gaoyang, out of respect for Jiang Liu, didn''t intend to intervene.


    However, if Jiang Liu were truly at risk of defeat and endangerment, she would not stand idly by.


    The intensely fierce battle did notst long, and after a few minutes, Jiang Liu''s Arhat Fist effect expired, and the brilliant golden light in his hand also faded.


    Simrly, as someone who also practiced the Arhat Fist, Daoji''s state of Arhat Fist also ended, leaving the two without a decided victor after several minutes of fighting.


    "Amitabha, Junior Brother, neither of us can overpower the other, so how about we stop here?" Hands joined in prayer, Daoji spoke softly.


    "Hmph, I told you, call me Senior Brother!" Jiang Liu swung his Ebony Stick as he spoke.


    Without the Arhat Fist''s amplification, he still had the weapon''s amplification from the Ebony Stick, while the other had nothing. In Jiang Liu''s eyes, he should have a better chance of winning.


    "If that''s the case, then don''t me your Senior Brother for being ruthless! Watch out for my Green Lotus Finger Strength," seeing Jiang Liu''s relentless attitude, Daoji frowned and extended a finger.


    At the tip of his finger, one could see a green energy forming into the shape of a lotus, ready to strike.


    "Silencing Zen!" Just as he viewed the approaching attack with caution, Jiang Liu immediately activated the Silencing Zen skill.


    The silence-based skill instantly caused the green lotus that bloomed from Daoji''s fingers to dissipate.


    "What? How is this possible!?" Suddenly, the Green Lotus Finger that he had gathered disappeared into thin air, and Daoji looked at his fingers in disbelief.


    Daoji could feel the True Yuan flowing within him, still at hismand, but he found it difficult to form into an attack, an urrence that was extremely rare in his experience.


    Bang!


    However, Jiang Liu didn''t have much time to be surprised, as the ebony stick had already smashed down,nding on Daoji''s body and causing him to cry out in pain.


    Ah! Ah! Ah!


    The continuous screams, his True Yuan unable to form an effective skill, made the current Daoji appear no better than an ordinary person.


    The ebony stick continuously hit Daoji''s body, leaving him with a swollen face and no longer caring about his graceful demeanor as he scurried towards the outside of the house.


    "Tell me, who is the elder brother, tell me, say it, say it fast..." Jiang Liu shouted loudly, feeling immensely satisfied as the stick kept raining down.


    "It''s you, you are the elder brother!" Amidst the continuous cries of pain, Daoji immediately gave in.


    "That''s right, little brother, will you still dare to meddle in elder brother''s affairs in the future?" The ebony stick did not stop, continuing to fall.


    "I dare not, elder brother, I, I won''t dare anymore..."


    Although he was begging for mercy, the silence period of Silencing Zen was not long, and seizing an opportunity, Daoji pointed his finger out.


    A stream of Finger Force, shot through the air towards Jiang Liu, with a green lotus vaguely visible at the fingertips. Although it wasn''t as clear as when it was fully charged, it was still swift.


    "Vajra Mantra!" Seeing the iing attack, Jiang Liu was surprised that the opponent could project energy from his body, but his reaction was also fast, activating the Vajra Mantra skill immediately.


    This finger force, hastily released, had insufficient attack power, which was then reduced by 80% by the Vajra Mantra. The remaining attack,nding on Jiang Liu''s body, did cause him some pain, but it was not enough to injure him.


    Feeling pain from the attack, Jiang Liu''s anger also surged, and he raised the ebony stick and smashed it onto Daoji''s head, stunning him.


    With a bang, in Jiang Liu''s eyes, the health bar over Daoji''s head instantly emptied.


    The copsed Daojiy motionless on the ground, falling into a near-deatha.


    Notice: Gained 325 experience points, gained 80 copper coins.


    Notice, level increased by 1, current level 6.


    As Daoji was knocked unconscious by him and notifications appeared, a refreshing flow passed through his body, instantly healing all injuries and restoring his energy, making him feel rejuvenated.


    Seeing that he had defeated Daoji, Jiang Liu walked over, turned his body over, and unceremoniously collected the string of copper coins pressed under him.


    Besides, there was also a red wooden ring.


    "Equipment drop!" Seeing the red ring, Jiang Liu was delighted, picked it up, and inspecting it, the attributes of the ring caught his eye.


    Redwood Ring (Fine Level Quality): Requires level 5, Attack Power +20, Passive: Full Power Strike, doubles the damage of the first attack after exitingbat for 300 seconds, Durability 9/10.


    "Nice stuff!" Looking at the data of the Redwood Ring, Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up.


    Worthy of being fine level quality equipment, huh? This increase in attack power almost catches up with the ebony stick, his main weapon.


    "Jiang Liu, what happened?" Because of the angle, Gaoyang only saw Jiang Liu facing him, seemingly searching through the things on Daoji''s body.


    Taking advantage of having knocked him out to search for spoils of war?


    "It''s nothing, just checking," Jiang Liu said, slipping the copper coins into his pocket and fitting the Redwood Ring directly onto his finger, then stood up.

 Chapter 21 Jinshan Temple Under Attack

    Thud, thud, thud!


    In the quiet night, the sound of gongs and drums was very clear.


    In Esquire Zhang''s household, the servant watched as the residence burst into raging mes and shouted loudly, "Water''s gone, the water''s gone!"


    The vigers of Jinshan Vige, woken up by themotion, watched the fire engulf Esquire Zhang''s residence. Though many dressed and got out of bed, the number of people genuinely willing to help was, after all, small.


    Even in the eyes of many, there was a sense of relief.


    Vigers, with their simple and frank nature, followed a simple principle: if you are good to me, I will be good to you; if you treat me poorly, do not expect me to be kind to you.


    Although Esquire Zhang was wealthy, his reputation in Jinshan Vige was not very good. If it hadn''t been for his wife managing some of the neighborhood rtions over the years, perhaps even the few who came to help wouldn''t have.


    "What''s the situation? Are the people inside safe?" Some vigers who ran faster approached the servant beating the gongs and drums and asked.


    "Thedy and the seconddy have been rescued, but the master, he is missing. What can we do¡­"


    The head of the family, Esquire Zhang''s absence was like missing the backbone.


    ...


    Atop a hillside, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang reached halfway up the mountainside and looked back; in the pitch-ck night, the fire at Esquire Zhang''s house was clearly visible.


    Watching the fire at Esquire Zhang''s house, Jiang Liu pressed his lips together, saying nothing, yet he felt profound emotions.


    In the mere half a month since he had time-traveled to this era, there had been murder and arson, which would be unthinkable in modern society with its rule ofw.


    Had he changed, or was the era to me?


    "Jiang Liu, is it really okay to let that monk named Daoji go?" Gaoyang nced at the fire at Esquire Zhang''s ce and thought about the unconscious Daoji they hadn''t killed, asking somewhat uneasily.


    Murder and arson were not light matters, and the monk called Daoji was the only witness. Logically, they should have eliminated the witness by killing him.


    "Those who deserve death should be killed, like Esquire Zhang, but Daoji bears me no ill will. His previous actions were merely because he had received some favors from Esquire Zhang. If I kill someone just to silence them, how am I different from Esquire Zhang who sumbs to greed and contemtes taking lives?"


    Shaking his head, Jiang Liu seriously responded, reaffirming that there must be a bottom line in being human.


    "But aren''t you afraid that after Monk Daoji wakes up, he''ll go to the government office to use you? By then, the trouble for us, and even Jinshan Temple, will be no small matter."


    "As I understand it, the so-called principle of evildoers is to kill rather than to let go, whereas the principle of upstanding people is to let go rather than to kill by mistake," Jiang Liu answered earnestly without exining too much, stating his bottom line.


    Without the intention of bing a great benefactor or a paragon of virtue, Jiang Liu did not wish to be a viin who takes lives without regard.


    Pause for a moment, Jiang Liu continued, "Besides, I believe Daoji is not a fool. He should know what to do."


    When he was beaten severely, he promptly admitted defeat, which showed that Daoji was someone who understood the situation well.


    Since he understood the situation, without reason, he would not likely want to invite unnecessary trouble.


    "Alright, what you say makes sense. I, as a heroine, have no desire to be an evildoer!"


    Jiang Liu spoke of the upstanding people''s principle "to let go rather than to kill by mistake," and Gaoyang nodded in agreement.


    As the two talked, they turned around and continued walking up the mountain.


    However, it was now thetter half of the night, and the mountain path was pitch ck. Suddenly, Gaoyang slipped, and with a startled cry, she fell to the ground.


    "Are you alright?" Seeing Gaoyang with a twisted foot, Jiang Liu quickly crouched down, asking with concern.


    "I can''t go on, my foot hurts. You, you''ll have to carry me," In the dark, Gaoyang''s expression was invisible, only her faint voice could be heard.


    ```


    "Okay," without giving it much thought, Jiang Liu nodded and turned around, letting Gaoyang lie on his back.


    Jiang Liu''s character level had already reached level 6, and whether in terms of strength or stamina, he had surpassed ordinary people by a great deal, so carrying Gaoyang didn''t feel heavy. The mountain path was rugged, yet Jiang Liu''s steps were steady.


    As Gaoyangy on Jiang Liu''s back, her hands wrapped around his neck and her cheeks lightly resting on his back, she felt very secure.


    However, feeling Jiang Liu''s somewhat stiff movements, Gaoyang curled her lips slightly in the darkness, "Hey, have you never carried another girl before?"


    "That, that''s not true, I used to hug and cuddle with other girls quite often..."


    Leaning on Jiang Liu''s back, Gaoyang only felt that his words were bluster.


    "What about you? Have you often been carried by other men?" After a moment of silence, Jiang Liu, intent on turning defense into offense, asked quietly.


    "No, other than my father, who carried me when I was little, you''re the first..." sping Jiang Liu''s neck a little tighter, Gaoyang''s voice was as faint as a mosquito''s.


    Neither the young man nor woman spoke again; in the silent night, only the sound of Jiang Liu''s footsteps grinding against the pebbles on the mountain path could be heard, making the atmosphere in the darkness charming.


    Leaning on Jiang Liu''s back, the young girl felt her own heartbeat seemingly growing louder.


    "By the way, the Incense Offering Ceremony is in a few days. Even if you''re initiated then, you won''t let the monks know, will you? Otherwise, this heroine will tear down your temple," Gaoyang said.


    "Don''t worry, I never nned on bing a monk. I still want to marry you and have lots of little babies. Yeah, let''s have enough to make a ser team. Let''s happily decide on that," replied Jiang Liu.


    "Ser team? What''s that?" Gaoyang asked.


    ...


    In the pitch-dark night, shoulder-borne by Jiang Liu, as they walked and talked, their feelings for each other warmed rapidly.


    However, as Jiang Liu arrived at the entrance to Jinshan Temple, a scream rang out, causing his heart to tighten.


    The familiar voice belonged to Senior Brother Xuankong.


    "Something''s wrong!" With a scream in the middle of the nighting from the temple, Gaoyang also understood that something had urred. Without a second thought, she leaped from Jiang Liu''s back, quietly approaching whaty ahead.


    Watching Gaoyang''s agile movements, the corners of Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched slightly.


    Had her foot injury already healed? Or was she deceiving him from the beginning?


    But now was not the time to ponder such things. Jiang Liu too crouched down and walked forward cautiously.


    A few torches lit up the small square outside the main hall of Jinshan Temple. Senior Abbot Famingy on the ground, his life hanging by a thread.


    Xuanming and Xuanwu, two fellow monks, had both been severely beaten, their faces swollen and bruised.


    Senior Brother Xuankong was in the most dire state, clutching his shoulder, lying on the ground with a right arm in a pool of blood, clearly having been severed.


    In the square, seven or eight men wielding steel knives looked fierce and malevolent; it was in to see they were no good men.


    Among these men, several bore various injuries, clearly sustained while fighting with Senior Brother Xuankong.


    The leader, a man holding a feather fan and dressed like a schr, sat on a chair. Evidently, this seemingly weakest man was the leader of these viins.


    "No one can kill our ck Bear Stronghold''s people and live freely," said the schr sitting in the chair, shaking his feather fan with a pretense of refinement.


    As his words fell, the schr made a horizontal cutting gesture with his fan and said, "Since that Novice Monk Jiang Liu was lucky enough to escape down the mountain early, then consider these bald donkeys as interest¡ªkill them all."


    "Stop!" Without caring whether he could defeat these men, Jiang Liu shouted as he saw the people of Jinshan Temple about to be ughtered and leapt out, wielding an ebony stick.


    Seeing the situation and listening to the schr-dressed fellow, Jiang Liu could guess: these men must be the bandits previously hired by Esquire Zhang, now seeking revenge.


    ```

 Chapter 22 Demon General

    "Liu''er, you..." Holding his severed arm, Senior Brother Xuankong looked at Jiang Liu, who had abruptly jumped out, and his expression couldn''t help but change.


    Jiang Liu had thought that he had quietly left Jinshan Temple, but to his surprise, at this critical moment, he jumped out.


    "You are a brave youngster," watching Jiang Liu, this schr sitting in the chair gently shook the feather fan in his hand, putting on an affected air of elegance. He wanted to say a few words to exhibit his demeanor.


    However, before he could finish speaking, his face suddenly changed, eximing, "How audacious!"


    Once they started to fight, there was no dragging their feet, especially now that they were outnumbered.


    Thus, Jiang Liu, ignoring the schr''s attempt to speak, directly pointed his ebony stick at one of the bandits, aiming to take the initiative by targeting an already severely injured bandit first.


    Watching Jiang Liu swing his stick down, this bandit raised his steel knife trying to block it.


    However, the ebony stick in Jiang Liu''s hand seemed to be forged from steel as golden light twined around it.


    With a single strike, what was horrifying was that the bandit''s steel knife snapped with a crack.


    Then this stick hit the bandit''s head fiercely, his eyes rolled back, and he fell into aa without any grace.


    The passive effect of the Redwood Ring doubles the damage on the first strike, hence the blow from the ebony stick could shatter the steel knife in one move.


    Notification: Earned 32 Experience Points, z6 coins.


    The prompt from the game system arrived as expected, but Jiang Liu, having knocked one bandit out cold with a strike, did not pay attention to it. His ebony stick swept toward several other bandits again.


    After all, the skill of Arhat Fist onlysted for 180 seconds, and without it, his attack power would greatly reduce.


    Hence once he acted, Jiang Liu naturally did not waste any time.


    However, the nearby bandits, seeing Jiang Liu jump out and knock out arade in seconds, and then observing the knife broken by the ebony stick on the ground, were all shocked and became hesitant to advance, even retreating quickly.


    Gaoyang, naturally moving forward and back with Jiang Liu, watched Jiang Liu make his move, and with his figure light as a startled swan, he whipped his leather whip.


    With a snap, it urately hit another bandit''s arm, who screamed as the heavy force instantly broke his arm.


    These bandits, though ferocious and even used to living on the de for many years with decent martial arts, were intimidated in spirit, how could they still be opponents for Jiang Liu and Gaoyang?


    Gaoyang''s martial arts were already very advanced, sufficient to battle demons.


    And what about Jiang Liu? Although he was only level 6, the enhancements from Arhat Fist, the Redwood Ring, and the ebony stick meant his strength was much greater.


    For these bandits, the prowess of Jiang Liu and Gaoyang was clearly a cut above theirs.


    "Has Liu''er''s martial arts be this formidable?" Senior Brother Xuankong, watching from the side with his severed arm, initially wanted to muster strength to help, but a nce at the ground, seeing the knife shattered by the strike, startled him, and he realized this was beyond his ability.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Like a tiger among sheep, these bandits were beaten to aplete rout in moments, nearly all of them falling into unconsciousness.


    "Second, second inmand, save, save me..."


    Thest bandit, his steel knife also broken by Gaoyang''s whip, with a flying dagger stuck in his shoulder, panickedly retreated to the schr who affected an air of elegance.


    "s, trash will always be trash. It seems I will have to rely on myself after all," putting down his feather fan, the schr stood up.


    Watching this schr-dressed fellow, Jiang Liu''s expression also grew much more solemn.


    Since he was the leader of these bandits, it was obvious that this guy must have been quite strong, and in a world filled with demons and ghosts, judging someone''s strength merely by their physical appearance was clearly unreliable.


    With a smack, to Jiang Liu and Gaoyang''s surprise, the schr made a move, but it was not directed towards them. Instead, he performed a precise chop with the edge of his hand on the neck of thest remaining bandit, knocking him unconscious.


    Tip: Gained 5 Experience Points.


    Jiang Liu and Gaoyang looked at each other, both stunned.


    However, Jiang Liu''s shock was not just about the schr''s action; he was also surprised that the knocked-out bandit had only given him 9 Experience Points in total.


    It seemed his monster had been stolen, so, had his Experience Points sharply decreased?


    "Cackling...


    As thest bandit was knocked unconscious, a sharp and piercingugh suddenly erupted from the schr''s mouth, reminiscent of a night owl,pletely contrary to his previously feigned schrly demeanor, "Now that all these guys are unconscious, no one remembers my true face anymore."


    Following the schr''s slippery words, an eerie throbbing appeared at the spot over his chest inside his robe.


    Suddenly, the area over his chest burst open, and a pitch-ck crow, with a third eye on its forehead, bizarrely emerged from the schr''s chest.


    "A demon!?" As they saw the three-eyed ck crow emerge, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang''s expressions involuntarily changed.


    "Able to burrow into a human body and control its actions without detection? Has it reached the level of a Demon Soldier?" Gaoyang said gravely as he looked at the three-eyed crow.


    Demon Soldiers are beings that can mimic human behavior, like the Wolf Demon that could walk upright, or like the Three-Eyed Crow before them, which could control human actions wlessly without giving away any ws.


    "A Demon Soldier?" As Jiang Liu watched the three-eyed crow fly out, his mind was heavy with concentration, yet tinged with some anticipation.


    Although they were both Demon Soldiers, the crow''s strength should be less than the Wolf Demon''s, given that wolves were inherently ferocious beasts.


    Moreover, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang had both improved in strength since then; perhaps they could kill this Three-Eyed Crow?


    After ying the Wolf Demon previously, not only had a lot of items burst forth, but there had also been a massive amount of Experience Points that allowed him to level up three times.


    If he seeded in killing this Three-Eyed Crow, he should be able to make a significant advance, right?


    "Usually hiding inside the bandit stronghold, it''s really troublesome trying to opportunistically eat a few humans'' brains. This time I must thank you all for knocking them unconscious, letting me feast well..."


    The Three-Eyed Crow, pping its wings, whose three eyes filled with ominous and evil auras, stared at Jiang Liu and the others.


    "One, two, three..." Its gaze swept across Jiang Liu, Gaoyang, and even Senior Brother Xuankong and the others behind them, its voice sharp, "Cackle, cackle, cackle, it looks like I''ll have a feast today, six people''s brains for me to eat."


    "Think you can eat us? Just afraid you don''t have that big of an appetite!" Taking advantage of some time left in his Arhat Fist skill, Jiang Liu lifted his Ebony Stick and smashed it fiercely towards the crow.


    Crack!


    However, facing Jiang Liu''s attack, the crow opened its beak and pecked at it.


    Then, the Fine Level Quality Ebony Stick was actually directly snapped by the Three-Eyed Crow''s peck.


    "A mere beginner in Qi Cultivation and the girl next to you, only at the Meridian Unblocking Stage, dare to act recklessly in front of me, the Demon Eye General..."


    After pecking Jiang Liu''s Ebony Stick in half, the Three-Eyed Crow leisurely preened its feathers with its beak, speaking calmly.


    "Demon Eye General? You are a Demon General!?"


    The words of the Three-Eyed Crow made Gaoyang''s face turn deathly pale.

 Chapter 23 Gaoyangs Identity

    Demon General!?


    Learning that the Three-Eyed Crow in front of him possessed the strength of a Demon General, Jiang Liu''s heart also sank.


    Although he wasn''t clear about what level a Demon General''s strength actually was, the Wolf Demon that had almost killed him and Gaoyang before was merely at the level of a Demon Soldier.


    Clearly, the strength of this Demon General was much stronger than that of the Demon Soldier from before.


    With the strength he and Gaoyang had recently gained, if they encountered a Demon Soldier, Jiang Liu could still muster the courage to fight.


    But now, knowing that this Three-Eyed Crow was as powerful as a Demon General, Jiang Liu felt utterly disheartened.


    "Jiang Liu, run!"


    Facing the Demon General, although Gaoyang also knew there was absolutely no chance of winning, she didn''t intend to surrender without a fight. Instead, she drew her long whip andshed it towards the Three-Eyed Crow while shouting loudly.


    "Run? Flee for our lives?" Hearing Gaoyang''s words, and in this moment of life and death, the thought of escaping indeed arose in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    After all, one only lives once. Fear of death is natural, and facing an insurmountable demon, Jiang Liu felt that fleeing wasn''t a disgraceful act.


    However, after reflexively taking a step, Jiang Liu looked at Senior Brother Xuankong, who had lost an arm, and nced at Senior Abbot Faming and Brother Xuanming, who were powerless to resist. His feet suddenly felt as heavy as lead. He wanted to run, but he just couldn''t move forward.


    Jiang Liu clearly understood that if he ran away, these people would undoubtedly die.


    That day, Senior Abbot Faming tried to facilitate Esquire Zhang epting him so that after a failed Incense Offering Ceremony, he could have a livelihood. Jiang Liu kept this favor in his heart.


    That day, Senior Brother Xuankong secretly found him and taught him the martial art of Arhat Fist so that he wouldn''t be bullied after descending the mountain. This kindness, too, Jiang Liu remembered well.


    Moreover, the vows made between him and Gaoyang to marry after the Incense Offering Ceremony and have many children¡ªhow could Jiang Liu possibly run away from thismitment?


    Although Gaoyang''s spirit was strong, the gap in strength could not be bridged by mere conviction.


    Facing Gaoyang''s attack, the Three-Eyed Crow merely pped its wings, and with its movement, blue Wind des appeared, not only severing Gaoyang''s whip into several pieces but even throwing Gaoyang backwards, leaving her with several deep wounds that bled profusely.


    Jiang Liu moved quickly to catch Gaoyang and looked at the cuts inflicted by the Wind des with great distress, which also ignited a raging anger within him.


    "Jiang Liu, you, you must run. We are no match for this Demon General. A Demon General is a demon creature that has learned spells, not something ordinary martial skills can withstand¡­" In Jiang Liu''s arms, seeing that he hadn''t taken the opportunity to escape, desperation filled Gaoyang''s expression.


    In response to Gaoyang''s words, Jiang Liu remained silent, simply pulling out a blood-red potion from within her embrace and pouring it into her mouth.


    This was from the time they had killed the Wolf Demon, which had dropped a Blood Bottle that Gaoyang had kept. Now, as she was severely injured and her health bar was only about a quarter full, Jiang Liu gave it to her to drink.


    "It''s, it''s useless¡­" As the potion was consumed, although her injuries were rapidly healing, the Demon General was still present, and drinking the potion seemedpletely ineffective.


    "It seems that today, dying together as lovers doesn''t seem so bad," Jiang Liu whispered while looking into Gaoyang''s anxious eyes.


    As he spoke, Jiang Liu stood up and rushed towards the Three-Eyed Crow.


    "Courageous indeed, your brain must taste the best!" Watching Jiang Liu charge over, the Three-Eyed Crow cawed loudly, its voice grating.


    As it spoke, the crow''s wings vibrated.


    Although they were merely small wings, as it moved, they stirred up a violent wind. These windspressed, forming several huge Wind des.


    "Silencing Zen!" Watching the Three-Eyed Crow''s movements, Jiang Liu shouted inwardly and pointed at the crow.


    The Silencing Zen skill activated, and the silencing effect instantly caused the gathered Wind des to dissipate into nothing.


    "What!? How is that possible!? Just a minor Qi Refinement Realm youngster¡­" The Three-Eyed Crow cried out in disbelief, seeing its spell disappear without a trace.


    Capitalizing on the moment the Three-Eyed Crow was stunned, Jiang Liu charged to its front and then threw a fierce punch at the crow.


    Although it possessed the strength of a Demon General, the Three-Eyed Crow was notrge in size; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been possible to infiltrate and control a human body.


    With a loud thud, Jiang Liu''s fist solidlynded on the Three-Eyed Crow''s body, and then Jiang Liu felt as if his punch had struck something incredibly tough.


    A rock could be shattered, but the crow in front of him seemed utterly unharmed.


    At the same time, Jiang Liu also noticed that the health bar above the Three-Eyed Crow''s head had slightly moved; it looked to be about 60% full.


    It wasn''t that Jiang Liu''s punch had reduced the Three-Eyed Crow''s health bar to 60%, but rather that the Three-Eyed Crow''s health bar had already been around 60% to begin with.


    This also indicated that the Three-Eyed Crow had been in a wounded state from the start.


    As for Jiang Liu''s attack? It seemed to have done no significant damage to the creature.


    "Interesting ability, but too weak..." Despite being punched by Jiang Liu, the Three-Eyed Crow appearedpletely unscathed and spoke in a shrill, piercing voice.


    As it finished speaking, a strong gust of wind hit him head-on, and Jiang Liu felt like he had been struck by a high-speed train.


    The world spun around him. He fell to the ground, his body aching all over, feeling as if his skeleton hade apart. He struggled to stand up, but failed.


    And his health bar instantaneously dropped to about 10%.


    Strong. The strength of a Demon General was truly terrifying.


    Even a wounded Demon General had almost instantly defeated him!


    "Gaga, your ability is quite magical. Then let me start by eating your brain!" Flying up, the Three-Eyed Crow, with a greedy look in its eyes, focused on Jiang Liu and swooped down toward him.


    It was a strange feeling. Although the Three-Eyed Crow looked no bigger than a palm, as it swooped down, Jiang Liu felt as if a massive beast was descending.


    He felt like he had be an incredibly tiny insect.


    With only 10% of his health remaining, if this hit were tond, Jiang Liu would surely die.


    Whoosh!


    Just then, a figure suddenly rushed out and stood in front of Jiang Liu.


    "Princess Gaoyang!" Seeing the girl who had dashed out, Jiang Liu was shocked.


    The fatal attacknded on Princess Gaoyang, making Jiang Liu''s eyes widen in horror.


    However, in his current state, Jiang Liu was already struggling to protect himself and could only watch helplessly at this scene.


    Just as it seemed that Princess Gaoyang''s head was about to be pecked open by the Three-Eyed Crow, suddenly, a faint sound of dragons chanting filled the air, and a strand of golden light emerged from inside Princess Gaoyang, forming a dragon-shaped protective shield around her.


    The seemingly thin light sessfully blocked the Three-Eyed Crow''s attack.


    "What is this? Young Dragon Talisman? You are from the Li family!" Its attack thwarted, the Three-Eyed Crow shrieked, as if it had seen something unbelievable.


    In the midst of its screeching, the Three-Eyed Crow turned and fled hastily into the distance, decisively choosing to escape.


    "Young Dragon Talisman? What is that? A person from the Li family? Isn''t Princess Gaoyang''s surname Gaoyang?"


    Watching the previously invincible Three-Eyed Crow suddenly turn and flee, and hearing its screaming words, Jiang Liu felt a deep sense of bewilderment.


    Swish!


    Just then, in the night sky, a dazzling sword light swept across like a falling star, distinctly visible against the dark.


    Although it was still far away, it reached Jinshan Temple in the blink of an eye.


    A screeching cry resounded as the Three-Eyed Crow, attempting to escape mid-air, was instantly killed by this sword strike, its health bar also instantly emptied.


    As the sword light retracted, itnded in front of Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang; it was an elderly man with a vigorous spirit, carrying a long sword on his back.


    "Greetings, Princess Gaoyang!" The elder bowed slightly.

 Chapter 24 Special Equipment - Skill Bookcase

    "Princess!?" Upon hearing the elder refer to Gaoyang, Jiang Liu was deeply shaken.


    Although he had always found Gaoyang''s identity to be mysterious, Jiang Liu respected her secrets, never intending to pry. However, suddenly learning that Gaoyang was a princess, Jiang Liu still felt profoundly moved.


    Within the boundaries of the Great Tang, being called "princess" made Gaoyang''s status clearly evident.


    Moreover, the Three-Eyed Crow that was just instantly killed had eximed that Gaoyang was from the Li Family, which seemed to exin a lot as well.


    "Elder Sword, could you let us speak alone for a few moments?" Gaoyang appeared somewhat frail as she said this to the old man with the long sword.


    The elder turned his head, nced at Jiang Liu, who was severely injured, and after a moment of silence, he nodded, saying, "Then I will wait over here, Princess. You know that in these days since you''ve run away, His Majesty has missed you dearly."


    As his words fell, the elder walked off into the distance.


    "I''m sorry, Jiang Liu, I... I didn''t mean to deceive you," Gaoyang said, lowering her head like a child who had done something wrong.


    "This isn''t deception, it''s just that, you being a princess, what about afterward..."


    Looking at Gaoyang, Jiang Liu didn''t feel angry; after all, he also had secrets he was keeping from her, didn''t he? But the memory of their vows of love made his heart turn a bit bitter.


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s words, Gaoyang understood what he meant, her cheeks reddening slightly: "I''ll find a chance to sneak out again. After we secretly leave, we won''t return to the pce ever again."


    Her words warmed Jiang Liu''s heart, yet his expression became serious, he said, "Only a man without ability would elope with a woman. Rest assured, I will, in the future, propose to the Emperor formally and rightfully marry you!"


    Indeed, marrying a princess was no easy feat, but armed with the game system, Jiang Liu was confident about his future.


    As long as he kept defeating monsters and leveling up, once he became powerful enough, marrying a princess might not be impossible.


    Jiang Liu''s words made love swell in Gaoyang''s heart, and she couldn''t help but wrap her arms around Jiang Liu, nting a light kiss on his cheek before turning and running off.


    Still, her joyous voice floated back to him like the chime of silver bells: "I''ll be waiting for you."


    ...


    Giggle, giggle, giggle!


    The sound of the rooster crowing signaled dawn, although Jiang Liu had already awoken and sat quietly by his desk.


    The desk wasid with numerous items that had exploded from the bandits the night before, yet he wasn''t in a hurry to tally them up; instead, he sat in a daze.


    Having learned from Senior Abbot Faming about Gaoyang''s true identity, that she was the daughter most cherished by the current Emperor, known as Princess Gaoyang.


    "Liu''er, we are butmon folks, for us to marry a princess is as difficult as reaching the heavens..."


    In his mind, Jiang Liu recalled Senior Abbot Faming''s earnest words from the night before. Even though the abbot didn''t make it explicit, Jiang Liu understood what he meant¡ªthe difference in their social statuses was too great; marrying a princess was an impossibility.


    "It seems I must work hard to level up!" Jiang Liu thought of the promise he had made to Gaoyang the previous night, and his will became resolute.


    He redirected his gaze back to the items on the desk. The previous night''s battle, after all, had yielded quite a haul.


    Even though the Three-Eyed Crow was not killed by Jiang Liu''s hand, he had participated in the battle, so after its death, the crow still granted him 500 Experience Points.


    "It seems that in a team status, one can receive a high amount of experience, but isn''t it that outside of a team status, the experience points are drastically reduced?" Jiang Liu roughly understood the situation considering the Wolf Demon had given him 2,800 experience whereas the Three-Eyed Crow only 500.


    Besides, the veryst bandit who was knocked out by the monster the previous night only provided a few single-digit experience points.


    Shaking his head, he set aside the matter of experience points for the moment. Although the kill was snatched away, the in Three-Eyed Crow did drop quite a few good items.


    First, two Blood Bottles and two Blue Bottles, and in addition, there was a Skill Book for the Taoist profession, "Swift Fire Bead".


    Due to his profession, Jiang Liu naturally couldn''t learn it right now.


    Beyond the potions and Skill Book, the Three-Eyed Crow also dropped two pieces of equipment.


    Demon Subduing Staff (Perfect Quality): Requires level 10, Attack Power +70, Passive: Damage to demon and ghost-type targets increased by 30%, Durability 8/10.


    Skill Bookcase (Special essory): Can ce three Skill Books of other professions inside to acquire the conditions for skill learning.


    "So it seems, to obtain good loot, should I hunt higher-level monsters? The bigger the level difference, the better the loot!" With these thoughts, Jiang Liu felt both surprise and tion at the items before him.


    Setting aside the Demon Subduing Staff for now, its Perfect Quality notwithstanding, it required level 10 to equip, but the increase of 70 in Attack Power was significantly higher than the 25 from the Ebony Stick he currently held.


    Not to mention the utility of the Skill Bookcase, this special essory.


    Special Equipment is inherently harder to drop than other mainstream equipment, and the function of this Skill Bookcase was significant.


    In the game interface, the number of items that could be equipped was finite.


    Main weapon, two rings, two bracelets or gloves, a helmet or headband, armor, shoes, belt, ne¡ªa total of ten equipment slots.


    Beyond these ten slots, there were three additional special equipment slots.


    The equipment for these three special slots may not necessarily increase Attack or Defense, but their effects are often quite unique, just like this Skill Bookcase.


    In short, as a Monk, I can learn three skills from other professions just by cing Skill Books in it, can''t I?


    And simply cing the Skill Books in it means they canter be swapped out.


    By killing the Banditsst night, defeating Daoji, and getting the 500 Experience Points reward from the Three-Eyed Crow, Jiang Liu had leveled up to 7, and naturally, he also had 7 Skill Points.


    Silencing Zen 1 point, Arhat Fist 3 points, Vajra Mantra 1 point. Currently, Jiang Liu still had 2 Skill Points remaining.


    Without much contemtion, Jiang Liu ced the "Swift Fire Bead" skill into the Skill Bookcase, then equipped the Skill Bookcase in the special essory slot.


    Prompt: Would you like to spend 1 Skill Point to learn the skill "Swift Fire Bead"?


    "It''s possible!" Receiving this prompt from the game system, Jiang Liu was overjoyed.


    Without any hesitation, he chose to learn it. Then, after some thought, Jiang Liu invested hisst Skill Point into the Swift Fire Bead skill as well.


    Swift Fire Bead (Middle Level): Fires a ball of me that can cause single-target damage to any target within a 10-meter radius, Attack Power +60%, Cooldown Time 10 seconds.


    "Such high destructive power!" Marveling at the powerful effect of the Swift Fire Bead skill, Jiang Liu was internally amazed.


    Even with Arhat Fist reaching High-Level, it only added a 25% increase, yet the Swift Fire Bead skill at Middle Level already added a 60% increase.


    While Arhat Fist is a status-boosting skill with a sustained duration, a 60% increase was still terrifying.


    Indeed, among the three main professions in the game, the Taoist ss had the highest destructive power.


    The Monk ss mainly excelled in control and support abilities, such as the system skill Silencing Zen and Vajra Mantra. Now, without Princess Gaoyang and soloing monsters for leveling up, not having a potent Attack skill would significantly slow down his progress.


    The Swift Fire Bead, a skill from the Taoist ss, was like timely aid to Jiang Liu in his current situation.

 Chapter 25 New Features Unveiled - Package Space

    Jinshan Temple, at the back of the mountain.


    Clenching his fists, Jiang Liu activated the state of Arhat Fist, and smashed his fist forward.


    In front of him, an injured ck bear was shaken and staggered backward, roaring repeatedly.


    After being pushed back, the blind bear suddenly crouched on all fours and then charged towards Jiang Liu. Its huge paw was lifted and swatted down at Jiang Liu''s body.


    The thick bear paw bore a tremendous force.


    "Vajra Mantra," looking at the ck bear''s health bar overhead, which was not much left, Jiang Liu muttered internally.


    The originally heavy and powerful bear paw struck his shoulder, and Jiang Liu only felt a slight weight on his body, but he wasn''t injured.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Liu''s golden fist smashed down again, cleaving onto the ck bear''s head and causing its health bar to drop a bit more.


    He then quickly retreated, raising one hand in the process. Instantly, crimson mes gathered in his hand.


    The mes, sized like a basketball, wereunched at the ck bear by a push from Jiang Liu and hit the bear precisely.


    A piercing scream was heard as the ck bear''s health bar above its head instantly emptied, and it copsed to the ground, entering a severely wounded and dying state.


    Notification: Gained 60 Experience Points, 20 copper coins.


    Notification: Level increased by 1, current level 10.


    With the game system''s notification, Jiang Liu collected 20 copper coins from under the ck bear and pocketed them. Seeing that it was also gettingte, he turned and headed back.


    Since the day when Jinshan Temple was attacked and Gaoyang was taken away, a week had already passed. During this week, Jiang Liu hunted wild beasts in the back mountain every day to level up. Fortunately, he didn''t encounter any powerful demon creatures; they were mostly just demons.


    Only the day before yesterday did he encounter a demon that could speak humannguage. Fortunately, the current Jiang Liu was not as he used to be. With the boost from the Redwood Ring as well as skills like Arhat Fist, Vajra Mantra, and Swift Fire Bead, although he was injured, he managed to sessfully y the demon.


    Not only did he gain arge amount of experience points, but he also obtained a pair of shoes of normal quality.


    Hemp Shoes (Normal Quality): Defense +5, Movement Speed +10%, Durability 8/10.


    Although they were only shoes of normal quality, the additional attributes were better than nothing.


    After about a week of hunting and leveling up, Jiang Liu''s level had finally progressed from level 7 to level 10.


    As his level reached 10, previously, equipment of Perfect Quality had dropped from the Three-Eyed Crow, namely the Demon Subduing Staff.


    Thinking of that Demon Subduing Staff, Jiang Liu quickened his pace a bit. Due to his inability to equip it yet, he had left it in the Zen Room, and now he was eager to pick it up and try it out.


    An increase of 70 Attack Power was enough to greatly enhance his strength.


    Notification: Level increased to 10, new feature "Inventory Space" unlocked; simply think about it to open it.


    However, just as Jiang Liu quickened his steps to return, suddenly, without warning, another notification from the game system appeared, causing Jiang Liu to pause slightly, somewhat startled.


    Inventory Space opened? Could it be? The bag feature from the game?


    Following the game system''s previous notification, Jiang Liu silently recited "Inventory Space" in his mind.


    Suddenly, a semi-illusory space opened up in front of Jiang Liu, a barely visible bag space that only he seemed to be able to see.


    A 5*8 bag space wasn''trge, but it had 40 slots, clearly capable of holding 40 items.


    With curiosity, Jiang Liu ced the pair of shoes he had into it.


    A slight suction appeared, and when Jiang Liu released his grip, indeed, the shoes shrank and were stored inside the inventory space.


    "Just like in the game, the bag space function, do I need to wait until level 10 to unlock it? Then, what about other functions? Like the quest function? Or life professions? Or the marketce¡­" he silently went over other functions in his mind.


    Well, that had no effect whatsoever. Perhaps these functions did not exist at all, or they required reaching a certain level to unlock, just like the bag space?


    He walked back to Jinshan Temple, taking the shoes in and out of his bag space repeatedly, amusing himself greatly.


    To onlookers, it seemed magical that with just a lift of his hand, a pair of shoes would appear in his hand, and then, with another lift, disappeared into thin air.


    Upon returning to Jinshan Temple, Jiang Liu headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for everyone.


    However, before he entered, he could hear noise from the kitchen, along with coughing sounds.


    Walking into the kitchen, he found his senior brother Xuanming bustling about, his chubby face slightly ckened from tending the fire for cooking.


    But he looked rather awkward in his attempts.


    "Senior Brother Xuanming? What happened to you?" Jiang Liu asked, surprised by Xuanming''s appearance.


    "Liu''er, you''re setting off for Chang''an tomorrow to attend the Incense Offering Ceremony. Unless something unexpected happens, you won''t likely return. So, I have to learn to cook, right? Xuankong has lost an arm, and Xuanwu often leaves the mountain to perform ceremonies. Naturally, the cooking duties will fall upon me," Xuanming said with a smile, wiping his face.


    Xuanming''s words left Jiang Liu in silence.


    Indeed, attending the Incense Offering Ceremony tomorrow was merely a formality for Jiang Liu. Regardless of whether he could light the incense scar or not, he had no intention of continuing as a monk, and someone at Jinshan Temple would need to take over the cooking. Senior Brother Xuanming seemed most suited for the task.


    "Since I''m leaving the mountain, let me cook onest meal for everyone," Jiang Liu said after a moment of silence.


    "No need, Liu''er. You''ve been cooking for us for so long. Let me cook for you today. Just to be clear, you''re not allowed to mock my cooking skills."


    "Absolutely not!"


    Dinner was hard to swallow: the rice was half-cooked, the dishes were either too salty, too nd, or burnt.


    Yet, thisst supper at Jinshan Temple was consumed in silence by all¡ª the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.


    Even the half-cooked rice was eaten carefully, ensuring that every grain was finished.


    "Liu''er, I originally wanted Xuankong to apany you down the mountain, but he is injured. Let your Senior Brother Xuanwu apany you," Senior Abbot Faming said after dinner.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Xuanwu," Jiang Liu sincerely thanked Xuanwu.


    "No need for formalities between us, Liu''er. Don''t feel too much pressure. The Incense Offering Ceremony is a matter of destiny, not something that can be influenced by human effort. Just take it easy tomorrow as if you''re there to watch the festivities," Xuanwu said, waving off the thanks with indifference and offering words offort.


    "That''s right, the Incense Offering Ceremony at the Great Buddha Temple is a grand event for the Buddhist Sect. Temples within a hundred miles will bring many to attend, and it''s quite lively. When I went to participate¡­" Xuanming seemed to reminisce about his days at the ceremony, a look of reminiscence on his face.


    "Enough talk. Liu''er, you should rest early tonight. The Great Buddha Temple is more than twenty miles from here, and we need to get up early tomorrow," Senior Abbot Faming interrupted Xuanming and admonished Jiang Liu.


    Xuanming cleaned up thest of the dishes, and as the sky darkened, Jiang Liu returned to his Zen Room.


    He roughly packed up the things he needed and stored them inside the bag space.


    Lying quietly on his bed, Jiang Liu contemted the uing Incense Offering Ceremony in his heart.


    After tomorrow, he would leave Jinshan Temple. From then on, he would have to fend for himself, diligently leveling up by defeating demons.


    After all, Gaoyang was still waiting for him.


    With his thoughts running rampant, consciousness slowly slipped into sleep¡­

 Chapter 26 The First Monk of the Great Tang

    Jiang Liu, carrying a small bundle on his back, descended the mountain with his senior brother, Xuanwu, heading towards Chang''an City.


    Though he had a storage space for items, Jiang Liu didn''t show any intention of putting the bundle prepared by Senior Abbot Faming into it in front of Senior Brother Xuanwu. Otherwise, this power akin to the "Sleeve Universe" spell would be rather difficult to exin.


    The Incense Offering Ceremony was an indispensable and very meaningful step for monks.


    In Jiang Liu''s view, if all monks in the world were like students, then the Incense Offering Ceremony would be akin to the importance of a college entrance exam.


    Almost no monk would miss this grand event.


    Although Jiang Liu no longer intended to be a monk, he still had to participate in the Incense Offering Ceremony, otherwise how could he exin himself to the monks and the abbots at Jinshan Temple?


    It was like a student with poor grades who, even though he knew he wouldn''t get into university and had ns to work after failing the exams, would still take part in them.


    Not just any temple could host the Incense Offering Ceremony; the Great Buddha Temple, as the head of the thousands of temples during the Tang Dynasty, naturally became the liveliest location for the ceremony.


    All temples within a hundred miles of Chang''an City, provided they had eligible novice monks, would send them to the Great Buddha Temple as the examination site for the Incense Offering Ceremony.


    This, in Jiang Liu''s eyes, was simr to the regional division of modern society''s college entrance examination.


    Today was the day of the Incense Offering Ceremony, and so, when Jiang Liu and Senior Brother Xuanwu arrived in Chang''an City, they could see the bustling excitement.


    On the road, they could see many young monks with bare heads yet without a single incense scar, clearly here for the Incense Offering Ceremony.


    Young monks usually were apanied by older monks or elders from their temples.


    Some monks, in coarse sackcloth, bore one or two incense scars and were obviously of shallow Buddhist faith. They were apanied by three to five thin and sallow-faced youths, walkingboriously on.


    Other monks, in silk kasayas and with aposed demeanor, had four to five incense scars, indicating profound Buddhist connection. They were followed by a multitude of young monks on tall, strong horses.


    Observing these fellow monks around him, Jiang Liu silently sighed.


    Other temples, no matter what, had several young monks, but Jinshan Temple had only Jiang Liu himself.


    This clearly showed the declining number of monks at Jinshan Temple, which was almost at the brink of extinguishing its incense fires.


    Furthermore, aftering down the mountain with a cursory nce, Jiang Liu understood that a monk''s social status was greatly linked to the incense scars on their heads.


    However, it seemed reasonable that monks with profound Buddhist connection had more incense scars, and naturally, their temples enjoyed thriving incense fires. Even if they did nothing all day but wee worshippers, wealth would pour in endlessly.


    On the other hand, monks of shallow faith wouldn''t have many visitors, simr to Jinshan Temple, which had to rely on farming to sustain itself, leading to a life of hardship.


    "This Great Buddha Temple is truly impressive..." Following the crowd, Jiang Liu and Senior Brother Xuanwu arrived at the Great Buddha Temple, marveling at the vast extent of the temple grounds.


    As the capital of the Great Tang, the fact that such a huge temple could be established within Chang''an City was telling of its influence.


    "Liu''er, this is thergest temple within our Great Tang territory, the Great Buddha Temple, wherein the Tathagata Buddha is worshipped," said Xuanwu, his face showing a profound sense of awe even though it was not his first visit to the Great Buddha Temple, especially whenparing it to the dpidated tile-roofed houses of Jinshan Temple.


    "Indeed, a top-tier monastery," Jiang Liu nodded slightly, sharing the sense of astonishment.


    It seemed incredible that Emperor Li Shimin of Tang would agree to set aside such a vast space within Chang''an City to build a monastery.


    Perhaps he had underestimated the power of the Buddhist sect in this world?


    "It is said that the abbot of the Great Buddha Temple, Saint Monk Longhai, once received enlightenment from the Tathagata Buddha in a dream, and thus he bears nine incense scars, a sign of such fate.


    With such good fortune, when Saint Monk Longhai enters nirvana, he will surely ascend to the Western Spirit Mountain and expound scriptures under the Tathagata Buddha," Xuanwu stated, his face filled with deep envy.


    Ordinary monks had one or two incense scars, like those at Jinshan Temple.


    Those with profound Buddhist connection might have three to five incense scars, and such individuals could generally reach positions of abbot or high-ranking roles in most temples, and also be revered as masters by theity.


    And those who have six or seven incense scars are inevitably renowned masters, or even living Buddhas.


    It is rumored that Vajras and Biqius from the Western Spirit Mountain who had erred once came to the human world to cultivate and only then could they form such profound connections with Buddhism.


    As for those with eight incense scars from the Incense Scar Initiation, they are few and far between, no longer mere mortals, but reincarnations of the disciples of the heavens'' Bodhisattvas.


    Master Longhai of the Great Buddha Temple was envisioned in a dream by the Tathagata himself, forging a predestined teacher-student bond with the Buddha in the mysterious ways of the cosmos.


    Therefore, with exactly nine incense scars, he was the sole such individual in the world, almost serving as the spokesperson for the Tathagata within the Great Tang''s domain.


    "So that''s how it is..." Upon hearing Senior Brother Xuanwu''s words, Jiang Liu gained some necessary understanding of this Buddhist karma.


    Which means, monks with three to five incense scars of the Incense Scar Initiation might still bemon people, but beyond that, they''re almost certainly deeply connected to the Western Spirit Mountain.


    They are either disciples of Buddha and Bodhisattvas in the mortal world, or perhaps they are directly Arhats, Vajras, and Biqius from the Western Heaven reborn on Earth.


    "Do the Buddhas of the Western Heaven really exist in this world?" Jiang Liu mused silently upon hearing these words, yet he did not voice the question.


    Back at Jinshan Temple, he had asked the same, only to be scolded by Senior Brother Xuankong.


    Moreover, demons and ghosts exist in this world, which is a fact.


    Since demons exist, then it seems not so strange for gods and Buddha Bodhisattvas to also be real, right?


    The Great Buddha Temple was immense, and on the first day of the Incense Offering Ceremony, it was bustling with people.


    Novice monks who met the age requirements from temples within a hundred-mile radius had toe here, along with the older members of their monastic orders, making the Great Buddha Temple exceptionally lively.


    However, the Great Buddha Temple was well prepared for the Incense Offering Ceremony, and after all the novice monks were registered, they were guided by temple staff to a huge square to queue up in line.


    The apanying senior monks from their respective orders were provided spots around the square to observe the ceremony.


    Jiang Liu nced around, noting the vastness of the square, reminiscent of a modern university sports field.


    In the surroundings, there were many onlookers; some, like Senior Brother Xuanwu, squeezed amongst the crowd.


    Others sat on chairs, these people either dressed in luxurious silk or being esteemed monks with at least four or five incense scars on their heads.


    Finally, at the front of the square, there were several opulent seats, all currently unupied, clearly reserved for honored guests.


    Young novice monks continued to enter the square in a steady stream, taking their ces as arranged.


    A cursory nce revealed that there must have been hundreds of them, giving Jiang Liu the sense of a schoolyard filled with students preparing for morning exercises in modern society.


    After a short wait, as the sun climbed higher, a Buddhist chant resonated, akin to the bell tolling of dusk and dawn, instantly silencing all mor.


    "Amitabha, Master Longhai has arrived!"


    With this chant, a hush fell over the entire square.


    All eyes turned upwards to see a procession of monks, young and old, all d in bright red kasayas, each with a distinguished bearing, and at least six incense scars on their heads.


    The leading monk appeared to be in his seventies, with a neatly groomed white beard, feet shod in straw shoes, wearing a kasaya edged with gold, and upon his smoothly shaven head were nine neatly arrayed incense scars, exuding an aura of majesty.


    "Greetings to Saint Monk Longhai!" Seeing this leading old monk, everyone spoke in unison, whether the surrounding monks or the richly dressed dignitaries.


    Saint Monk Longhai could be regarded as the premier monk within the Great Tang!


    "The Emperor of Tang has arrived! Princess Gaoyang has arrived!"


    However, just as Saint Monk Longhai returned a greeting, before he could continue to speak, suddenly another announcement rang out.

 Chapter 27 Incense Offering Ceremony

    Along with the respectful salutations, a guard of honor was arranged, and within it, one could see a man of about thirty-five or thirty-six years of age, striding like a dragon and pacing like a tiger, who was undoubtedly the present Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Shimin.


    Jiang Liu turned his head and observed Li Shimin carefully.


    No matter whether the world he was in was the Tang Dynasty that he knew from history, Li Shimin was a renowned Emperor whose reign he currently resided under, and it was natural for Jiang Liu to take a few extra nces.


    Following by Li Shimin''s side was a young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a gorgeous long gown, which seemed to exude wealth and nobility, and each of her steps appeared to be carried out with impable etiquette.


    With her delicate features and unapproachable status, her noble demeanor made others feel inferior.


    Perhaps it was because they were of a simr age, but nearly all of the young monks on the square had their eyes on Princess Gaoyang.


    Jiang Liu''s gaze naturally fell upon Gaoyang, and having not seen her for just one week, he found himself missing her deeply.


    Unlike what others saw, merely Princess Gaoyang''s grace and nobility, Jiang Liu perceived the constraints that so-called royal demeanor ced upon her, which was nothing like the liveliness and naturalness she exhibited during those days behind Jinshan Temple.


    "We have seen the Emperor! We have seen the Princess!" In the center of the square, as Li Shimin arrived with Gaoyang, led by Saint Monk Longhai, all the monks of the Great Buddha Temple spoke out and bowed to show their respects.


    "Saint Monk Longhai, please, there''s no need for formalities. You have worked hard over these years, and today is the great day of the annual Incense Offering Ceremony, so naturally I came to personally attend," Li Shimin said without any pretense of superiority, stretching out his hands to personally help Saint Monk Longhai, who was bowing, to rise.


    "It is a great honor for the Great Buddha Temple to have the Emperore in person. Your Majesty, please take the seat of honor," Even though he bowed his head, Saint Monk Longhai spoke without any servility or haughtiness, and while speaking, he led Li Shimin towards the main seat.


    "The Saint Monk is the host of this Incense Offering Ceremony, and I am merely here as an observer; the main seat should be reserved for the Saint Monk," Li Shimin shook his head and did not take the seat of honor, instead taking a seat with Princess Gaoyang on the secondary seat.


    "We have seen the Emperor! We have seen the Princess!" Following the Emperor and Princess taking their seats, all the young monks on the square of the Great Buddha Temple, and even those on the sidelines who came to watch the ceremony, kneeled down in unison and called out loudly.


    "Everyone, please rise," Li Shimin said, raising his hand.


    Jiang Liu stood up and looked at Li Shimin''s seat, feeling secretly astonished.


    Even the Emperor had to sit in the secondary seat when he came here? It seemed that he had underestimated the Great Buddha Temple and Saint Monk Longhai''s capabilities.


    But upon further reflection, there had always been a struggle between royal and divine power, and considering that this was a world with real Immortals and Bodhisattvas, was it not understandable that even Emperor Li Shimin should defer to the highest-ranking Holy Monk of the Great Tang, Longhai?


    Furthermore, what exactly did Li Shimin mean by the hard work that Saint Monk Longhai had endured? Was he referring to the Incense Offering Ceremony? But this was a matter internal to the Buddhist Sect, so why would Li Shimine to offerfort?


    "Amitabha Buddha..." A Buddhist chant was intoned, not very loud, but it clearly resounded in everyone''s ears. As Saint Monk Longhai began to speak, everyone fell silent.


    "From my youth, I received the teachings of the Tathagata in my dreams. Having obtained the Buddhist Law, it is my duty to propagate it to enlighten all sentient beings. Yet, life is suffering for all, and our Buddhist Sect is modest..."


    The words spoken by Saint Monk Longhai were not filled with pompous titudes but gave off a very sincere vibe.


    However, Jiang Liu''s mind was not on these words. He was only stealthily watching Gaoyang, soothing the pangs of longing in his heart.


    Under Jiang Liu''s attentive gaze, although Princess Gaoyang sat poised, her eyes swept across the square, searching inconspicuously, and Jiang Liu understood that she was also looking for him.


    However, there were hundreds of young monks in the square, each with a shaved head; clearly, she wouldn''t be able to find him right away.


    "Today, at our Great Buddha Temple, there are 810 disciples participating in the Incense Offering Ceremony. I hope that each one of you will be able to light the incense scar and be a true disciple of the Buddhist Sect!" the words of Saint Monk Longhai were brief, but he concluded with this statement.


    As Saint Monk Longhai spoke, the six venerable monks beside him all stood up, each holding arge red incense stick.


    Carved with the swastika, the symbol of Buddha, these incense sticks were as thick as a finger; they ignited without fire, turning into twinkling stars.


    With themencement of the Incense Offering Ceremony, young monks, one after another, ascended the tform to partake in the ritual.


    The six venerable monks carried out the ceremony simultaneously. Of the six young monks in the first round, only one managed to light an incense scar, while the other five, upon having the burning Great Incense touch their heads, saw the mes extinguish, naturally signifying their failure.


    The disciple who had managed to light an incense scar stayed to the side, a joyful expression upon his face.


    Those who hadn''t, descended with faces dimmed in despair; some even began to sob quietly.


    A fifteen-year-old boy''s failure in the Incense Offering Ceremony meant he had to leave the monastic life and fend for himself in the world, which was akin to a teenager in modern society having to leave their parents and earn a living. Naturally, they were filled with confusion about the future.


    The Incense Offering Ceremony brought joy to some and sorrow to others. Jiang Liu silently watched from the crowd, without saying a word.


    However, after about a dozen rounds of the ceremony, Jiang Liu noticed that the sess rate of the Incense Offering Ceremony was indeed not high.


    Out of fifteen rounds, ny young monks had stepped up, but only eight managed to light an incense scar, and six of them had achieved only one scar each. The vast majority ended in failure.


    Yet with such a low passage rate, it could almost be deemed a failing start. Still, Jiang Liu saw that both the onlookers and the young monks on the square seemed quiteposed.


    Clearly, the scene before him was considered normal.


    "Amitabha, Junior Brother, it''s been several days since our parting, yet your grace remains unchanged¡­," as Jiang Liu observed the Incense Offering Ceremony, a voice rang out behind him.


    Jiang Liu turned around to see a young monk dressed in a crescent moon-white robe standing behind him. He looked serenely at Jiang Liu; it was Daoji, whom he had encountered at Esquire Zhang''s house before.


    "Have you forgotten? You should call me Senior Brother!" It was not surprising that Daoji came to the ceremony, but Jiang Liu hadn''t expected him to pick him out in such a crowd.


    Even more unexpected, he had the audacity¡ªafter being knocked unconscious by Jiang Liust time, repeatedly calling out "Senior Brother," he addressed himself as "Junior Brother" again upon meeting him today.


    Jiang Liu''s words reminded Daoji of the time he was beaten, hisplexion turning a bit unnatural, but then he whispered, "Over the past few days, while lingering in the Great Buddha Temple, I''vee across apt opportunities and learned a new Demon Subduing Technique. After the incense offering, I should like to spar a few moves with you, Junior Brother."


    "It seems you''ve learned some new martial arts in these past days and wish to regain face?" Daoji''s words caused Jiang Liu to smirk internally.


    In these few days, had he just been idly wasting time? With the Redwood Ring and the Demon Subduing Staff, and his level upgraded to 10, he was still very confident in his heightened abilities during these days.


    And for this experience points walking right up to his doorstep, Jiang Liu naturally weed it with open arms.


    However, changing the subject, Daoji continued, "Of course, all of this depends on whether you can pass the Incense Offering Ceremony. Otherwise, even if I wanted to call you Junior Brother, there will no longer be a chance."

 Chapter 28 Everyone is Shocked

    "It seems you are quite confident about passing the Incense Offering Ceremony," Daoji''s words prompted Jiang Liu to ask.


    With such a high elimination rate of about ny percent, who could be sure they would absolutely pass?


    In response to Jiang Liu''sment, Daoji did not argue, but simply asked, "Junior Brother, you don''t think that the method of testing one''s Buddhist fate is limited to the Incense Offering Ceremony, do you? I''ve been lingering at the Great Buddha Temple for the past few days, and Master Longhai once said, ''My Buddhist fate is profound; I could mark at least five incense scars''."


    If one could mark three to five incense scars, they could rise to the higher echelons of most temples, even to the position of an abbot, and be called a master.


    At least five? Does that not mean there is a chance to mark a sixth?


    By this stage, one almost belongs to the reincarnations of Vajra or Biqiu from the Western Spirit Mountain, right? Such profound Buddhist fate Daoji has!


    Jiang Liu wore a look of astonishment on his face, which greatly pleased Daoji.


    Since there was plenty of time, Daoji didn''t mind chatting a bit more.


    "The Jinshan Temple you are affiliated with, I know a bit about it. Perhaps, you''re not too familiar with the significance of the number of incense scars? The annual Incense Offering Ceremony is held simultaneously in seventy-seven temples within the Great Tang territory. Based on past urrences, each temple might sessfully conduct the ceremony for about fifty to sixty disciples.


    Therefore, over the course of a year, less than three thousand disciples sessfully receive the incense," he said.


    "Amongst them, the vast majority have one or two incense scars; the higher the number goes, the fewer the people. Those capable of marking five incense scars can be counted on one''s fingers, and as for six scars, it might take several years to encounter one in the entire Great Tang territory."


    Boasting, in front of Jiang Liu, Daoji was indeed boasting. With Master Longhai personally stating he could mark at least five incense scars, he felt that he ought to be the main star of today''s Great Buddha Temple''s Incense Offering Ceremony without a doubt.


    Daoji''s words made Jiang Liu realize what was going on.


    If it''s said that all the monks attending the Incense Offering Ceremony are like taking a direct entrance exam, then Daoji might as well have secretly taken a practice exam beforehand and scored highly, so he was full of confidence in himself.


    However, these boasts sounded rather meaningless to Jiang Liu, for unlike other monks, he had never considered bing a monk.


    Whoosh!


    While Jiang Liu and Daoji were talking, or rather while Daoji was boasting, suddenly, the whole venue erupted into murmurs.


    A young monk on the stage had already marked five incense scars on his head and was about to mark the sixth when the incense extinguished.


    The sudden appearance of a monk with five incense scars caused a stir in the crowd, many casting envious nces.


    With such Buddhist fate, if he were in any ordinary temple, he would surely be an abbot in the future.


    "Amitabha, your disciple has profound Buddhist fate. Would he like to join our Great Buddha Temple and delve deeply into Buddhist doctrines?" Seeing the disciple with five incense scars emerge, even the Holy Monk Longhai himself took two steps forward, his face benevolent and kindly as he spoke softly.


    "Disciple, I am willing!" Hearing that Holy Monk Longhai personally invited him, almost wanting to take him as a pupil, the young monk was overjoyed, trembling with excitement.


    "Your Majesty, this disciple has profound Buddhist fate. Would you bestow upon him a Dharma name?" After epting this disciple, Holy Monk Longhai then addressed the Emperor.


    "Hmm, a disciple with five incense scars, which is rare to see over many years. I will grant you the Dharma name Xuanfan. I hope you will delve into Buddhist doctrines deeply and master the divine skills of subduing demons and eliminating evil," Emperor Li Shimin nodded, also looking with what admiration at the young monk with five incense scars, pausing slightly before bestowing the Dharma name.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Receiving a Dharma name directly from the Emperor himself, the young monk expressed his gratitude excitedly.


    "It appears there is more than one monk who can mark five incense scars."


    Watching the young monk, who because of his five incense scars momentarily became the focus of countless onlookers, Jiang Liu wasn''t too envious, merely teasing Daoji with augh.


    Within the Great Tang territory, as seventy-seven temples simultaneously hold the Incense Offering Ceremony, those who can mark five incense scars are few and far between.


    Assigned to each of the seventy-seven temples, isn''t that a rarity seen only once in several years?


    "I, I could at least mark five incense scars, perhaps I could mark six, or even seven?" Watching the young monk who had marked five incense scars, Daoji could hardly boast in front of Jiang Liu anymore, his expression growing serious, yet he stubbornly spoke.


    Regarding Daoji''s stubborn words, Jiang Liu simply smiled lightly, saying nothing more.


    To him, attending the Incense Offering Ceremony was merely to join in the excitement and to legitimately renounce the world and descend the mountain, simply to provide an exnation to Jinshan Temple and nothing more.


    Following the appearance of the monk with five incense scars, the atmosphere of the Incense Offering Ceremony seemed to reach its climax, bing much more fervent.


    Round after round of youths went on stage, offering incense under the watchful eyes of all, and consecutively, several monks sessfully offered incense, bing true Buddhist Disciples.


    About half an hourter, it was finally Daoji''s turn to go on stage.


    Dressed in a monk''s robe as white as the crescent moon, Daoji''s face bore a calm smile as he walked slowly, exuding an extraordinary grace.


    "This disciple seems out of the ordinary..." said Emperor of Tang Li Shimin in a low voice as he watched Daoji ascend the tform.


    "Your Majesty, this is a new disciple I took under my wing a few days ago, his dharma name is Daoji," the Saint Monk Longhai responded softly as the Emperor of Tang Li Shimin spoke.


    "So he is the direct disciple of the Holy Monk, no wonder," hearing this, Emperor of Tang Li Shimin looked even more amazed at Daoji.


    Before even offering incense, Longhai had taken him as a disciple, revealing the extent of Daoji''s affinity with Buddha.


    Jiang Liu''s gaze also fell on Daoji, his heart curiously stirred.


    Daoji, humble and polite, bowed to the master performing the Incense Offering Ceremony for him.


    This high-ranking monk, evidently aware of his identity, responded with a gentle, pleasant smile.


    Daoji knelt down and slightly lowered his head; in front of him, the master lifted the Great Incense, which ignited by itself, sparkled with starlight. The lit incense was pressed against Daoji''s head.


    With his head bowed, it was impossible to tell whether Daoji''s expression bore any pain.


    However, a momentter, the Great Incense was lifted, leaving one incense scar on his bald head.


    The incense continued to burn; the Great Incense was applied again, and then, the second incense scar appeared.


    By this time, the incense for the other five young monks had already extinguished, and everyone''s attention was focused on Daoji.


    Now there were two incense scars.


    The monk in front of Daoji, unhurried, proceeded to apply the third and fourth incense scars...


    "There are already four incense scars!" All were holding their breath in anticipation, uncertain if it could continue.


    The Great Incense was pressed down again, not extinguishing, and as the hand was lifted, the fifth incense scar appeared on Daoji''s head.


    "Hiss! Another person has achieved five incense scars!" Observing the five incense scars on Daoji''s head, the Great Buddha Temple was once again astounded!


    The master in front of Daoji paused for a moment, and then, the Great Incense was applied again to Daoji''s head.


    At that moment, Emperor of Tang Li Shimin straightened his body, Master Longhai''s eyebrows lifted, and countless people stretched their necks, looking on eagerly.


    The Great Incense still was not extinguished.


    As the hand was lifted, the sixth incense scar appeared before everyone.


    Sensational!


    Seeing the six incense scars on Daoji''s head, the entire Great Buddha Temple was abuzz.


    The audience on the stands and the monks in the square were all at a loss for words.


    Emperor of Tang Li Shimin beside them also wore a look of shock.


    Saint Monk Longhai suddenly stood up and took the still-burning Great Incense from the master in front of Daoji.


    "My disciple, your master will personally offer you the incense!" Looking at the six incense scars on Daoji''s head, Saint Monk Longhai''s eyes also carried a look of anticipation.

 Chapter 29 Unprecedented, Twelve Fragrant Scars

    At this moment, the progress of the Incense Offering Ceremony seemed to have paused, as everyone''s gaze fell upon Daoji.


    He had already been marked with six Scars of Precepts, and as a disciple of the Holy Monk Longhai, everyone wondered if the scarring could continue.


    The few high monks performing the incense ceremony also stopped, their eyes on Daoji, and the hundreds of young monks remaining in the square looked on eagerly.


    Even Li Shimin, the Emperor of Great Tang, stood up.


    The situation with six incense scars was indeed a grand event.


    Moreover, there was a possibility that the scarring could continue!


    Everyone wanted to know how many incense scars could ultimately be reached.


    With his head bowed, having sessfully received six incense scars, Daoji felt a surge of excitement in this moment of universal attention. Suddenly, he became the center of attention, a feeling that was intoxicating.


    However, with his head bowed, nobody could see his expression; they only heard his voice slightly trembling with excitement, "Thank you, Master!"


    The Holy Monk Longhai did not speak, and the great incense in his hand fell on Daoji''s bald head.


    His wrist lifted, the incense fire did not extinguish, and the seventh incense scar sessfully imprinted.


    Seven! There were seven incense scars now!


    Ignoring what the others might be thinking, the Holy Monk Longhai hesitated slightly, took a deep breath, and then continued to ce the great incense on Daoji''s head.


    His wrist lifted again.


    The incense fire, as if it would never extinguish, had now marked the eighth incense scar on Daoji''s head.


    The entire venue was so quiet that it seemed one could hear a pin drop.


    Everyone was agape, staring at the eight incense scars on Monk Daoji''s head.


    With such a connection to Buddha, he was second only to the Holy Monk Longhai.


    Such a significant event, rarely seen in decades.


    Looking at the incense in his hand, the hands of Holy Monk Longhai trembled slightly; then he slowly moved to imprint it on Daoji''s head again.


    If sessful, Daoji would be the second monk within the Great Tang to achieve nine scars, and in the eyes of Holy Monk Longhai, he was about to be his sole heir.


    Everyone held their breath, watching the movements of Holy Monk Longhai.


    Under the gaze of all, the incense fire fell upon Daoji''s head for the ninth time.


    After a long while, Holy Monk Longhai lifted his wrist.


    On Daoji''s head, nine incense scars were clearly visible!


    Nine incense scars!


    Countless people gasped; after decades, the Great Tang finally saw the emergence of another monk with nine incense scars!?


    And everyone present was a witness to this grand asion.


    The Holy Monk Longhai, though a highly attained monk, faced with such a grand asion, was so excited that his face turned red, his hand holding the great incense trembling slightly, then he moved to imprint on Daoji''s head once more.


    But this time, the incense fire went out.


    He sighed deeply; the incense fire finally extinguished. Holy Monk Longhai didn''t know what to feel at that moment, as if he was relieved yet also sighed with regret.


    After a moment of silence andposing his emotions, the Holy Monk Longhai returned the extinguished incense to a nearby high monk and looked at Daoji with eyes that were both joyful and loving, "Amitabha, good disciple, your connection to Buddha is profoundly deep. From now on, you will be my direct disciple, and in the future, you will take over the Great Buddha Temple," he said.


    "Thank you, Master!" In front of everyone, these words from Holy Monk Longhai filled Daoji''s heart with great joy.


    Nine incense scars were enough to prove his connection to Buddha, and if he were to assume the position of abbot of the Great Buddha Temple in the future, he would undoubtedly be the foremost monk of the Great Tang.


    "Congrattions, Holy Monk, on obtaining a fine disciple! Congrattions, Brother Daoji!" Following the words of Holy Monk Longhai, all the monks in the audience shouted in unison.


    Everyone only felt envious that Daoji could be a disciple of the Holy Monk and the designated sessor of the Great Buddha Temple; there was no jealousy.


    After all, the connection to Buddha through nine incense scars said it all.


    "Brothers, I am spiritually exhausted. I''ll leave the subsequent matters to you," said Holy Monk Longhai, helping Daoji up and speaking to the surrounding high monks.


    Suddenly having acquired a disciple like Daoji, who also had nine incense scars, Holy Monk Longhai felt emotionally stirred, somewhat eager to transmit profound Buddhist teachings and Demon-subduing divine skills to him.


    Buddhist Sect''s Divine Skills, unlike other cultivation techniques, require one to have sufficient Buddhist fate to cultivate higher levels of Buddhist Divine Skills!


    "Senior brother, please feel free!," said a few high monks respectfully in response to Saint Monk Longhai''s words.


    After decades of waiting, he finally found a sessor to inherit his mantle, a moment everyone could understand Saint Monk Longhai''s excitement.


    "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I must take my leave along with my disciple," Saint Monk Longhai exined before addressing Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin.


    "Holy Monk, please proceed, congrattions on finding a sessor for the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound!" Emperor Li Shimin sincerely congratted him and did not try to make him stay.


    After apologizing, Saint Monk Longhai left the scene of the Incense Offering Ceremony with Daoji.


    Nobody thought their departure was inappropriate.


    Another monk with nine Scar of Precepts has emerged; soon, the whole Great Tang will know of this event, a spectacle rarely seen in a hundred years for the Buddhist Sect within the Great Tang.


    However, despite the stirring event, the work of the Incense Offering Ceremony must continue.


    Yet, after Saint Monk Longhai had left, although the Incense Offering Ceremony had not yet ended, it seemed rather insignificant now.


    The matter of Daoji having nine Scar of Precepts was so captivating that the interest and enthusiasm of the young monks who continued the ceremony were not as high as before.


    "Gaoyang, let''s also return; we have seen enough..."


    Even Saint Monk Longhai had left, and Emperor Li Shimin had no desire to remain, he whispered to Princess Gaoyang beside him.


    "Father, this Incense Offering Ceremony is almost over, might as well see it through to the end," without turning, Princess Gaoyang scanned the remaining three to four hundred young monks and replied.


    "Very well, as you wish," Li Shimin smiled indulgently and nodded in agreement.


    Jiang Liu, still quietly among the crowd, watched as the Incense Offering Ceremony proceeded normally without any particrly noteworthy monks appearing.


    Even when a disciple with four scar appeared, it seemed no one was too interested anymore.


    "Next, from Jinshan Temple, Jiang Liu."


    After a moment, Jiang Liu heard his name called and moved toward the stage.


    Simrly, upon hearing this name, Princess Gaoyang straightened up, her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Liu.


    Her gaze, like a ma, lingered long and hard.


    ...


    At the Great Buddha Temple, inside the grand hall.


    Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji offered several sticks of incense to the Golden Elephant of Tathagata and then, Saint Monk Longhai''s gaze fell on Daoji, his expression much calmer.


    "Disciple, you have lit nine great scars, which speaks to your deep connection with Buddha, a joyful yet poignant matter."


    "Please enlighten me, Master."


    Joyful he could understand, but poignant, Daoji found perplexing as he looked at Longhai in surprise.


    "There is a saying, ''The higher you stand, the colder it gets.'' The higher your position, the greater your responsibility. Setting that aside for now, do you know why our Great Buddha Temple is located within Chang''an? It is because, at the founding of Chang''an City, there was a Demon Cave beneath it that connected directly to the Demon Realm.


    Our Great Buddha Temple suppresses it, ensuring peace in this region."


    "As the Demon Path grows rampant, constantly assaulting us, even my Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound seems barely sufficienttely. Now that you are my disciple, I will pass on the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to you in hopes you will help me and the entire world bear this burden..."


    Suddenly hearing such a profound secret, Daoji looked shocked.


    However, driven by noble duty, he felt a surge of emotion: "Master, rest assured, disciple..."


    Thump, thump, thump!


    But before Daoji could properly express his stance, suddenly, a series of ancient bell sounds resonated through heaven and earth, as if from a very distant ce, yet strikingly clear.


    "What''s happening? Why would there be bell sounds during the Incense Offering Ceremony!?" Daoji wondered in surprise, feeling a sense of rity in his mind upon hearing the bell.


    "Abbot! Abbot!"


    Just then, a young monk rushed into the grand hall and came before Longhai, even falling to the ground in his haste.


    "What happened?" asked Saint Monk Longhai, looking at his disciple who appearedpletely disheveled.


    "Ten...twelve Scar of Precepts... Someone has lit twelve Scar of Precepts..."

 Chapter 30 I Want to Return to Secular Life (Please Vote for Recommendation)

    Boom!


    As soon as the words "twelve incense scars" came out, it was as if a p of thunder had struck, leaving Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji standing beside him dumbstruck, barely able to believe their own ears.


    Twelve incense scars? Such a sight was unheard of, unseen before.


    As expected of the foremost monk of the Great Tang, Saint Monk Longhai reacted swiftly. Although the news had stunned him into stillness, he quickly regained hisposure. Without a word, he hurried toward the exit of the main hall.


    When he reached the outside of the hall, his footsteps halted.


    From a great distance, ethereal bell sounds could be heard in the sky, and between heaven and earth, chan sounds could be heard, as if whispering in one''s ear.


    Golden Buddhist light fell from the sky, transforming into a column of light. Around the column, flowers rained down in chaos, and Earth-Spawned Golden Lotuses surged from the ground.


    Such celestial and terrestrial phenomena were unprecedented.


    "Could such phenomena indicate that a Bodhisattva is descending to the mortal realm?!", trailing behind Saint Monk Longhai, Daoji also arrived at the main hall''s entrance, gazing at the extraordinary sight as he stood there, equally stupefied.


    Could such phenomena appear during the Incense Offering Ceremony? It was unprecedented.


    The bell sounds mixed with the chan sounds seemed to contain some kind of Great Illumination, a supreme rationale of Great Yang, imparting a sense of rity and emptiness to the spirit.


    Between heaven and earth, lotus flowers budded and then vanished, turning into golden specks that drifted away, touching one''s skin with a warm sensation, as if one''s body became lighter and minor internal ailments slowly disappeared.


    No longer concerned with the decorum befitting a holy monk, Longhai hurriedly ran toward the square where the Incense Offering Ceremony was held.


    To have gained a disciple with nine rare scars, he had felt he had reaped the greatest harvest, yet there now appeared a disciple with an unprecedented twelve scars.


    His heart was filled with immeasurable regret at not having witnessed the birth of the twelve incense scars.


    In Chang''an City, countless people had witnessed this spectacle, with Buddhist light shining everywhere and golden lotuses vanishing, leading them to mistakenly believe a Bodhisattva had descended, causing a sensation that made innumerable people kneel down in worship toward the direction of the Great Buddha Temple.


    The annual Incense Offering Ceremony held at the Great Buddha Temple was well-known to the inhabitants of Chang''an City. Though it was a grand event, it primarily concerned the Buddhist Sect, so most of the popce did not pay much attention to it.


    But today, these celestial phenomena were undoubtedly miraculous, entirely different from the usual.


    Within the Imperial Pce of Chang''an City, an elder dressed in an Eight Trigrams Taoist robe, with white hair but a youthful face, gazed long at the phenomena above the Great Buddha Temple, speechless for an extended period.


    After a long while, when the celestial and terrestrial phenomena finally began to slowly fade away, he sighed deeply, "s, with such grand scenes, the Buddhist Sect strengthens day by day, while our Taoist Sect is bound to wane¡­"


    Within a hundred miles of Chang''an City, many spiritually aware demon creatures observing the phenomena also bore a serious look in their intelligent eyes.


    ...


    Disregarding the reactions of the surrounding popce to such celestial and earthly phenomena, the square of the Incense Offering Ceremony was utterly silent at the moment, with everyone shocked as they stared at Jiang Liu on the stage.


    Upon his bald head, there were distinctly twelve incense scars.


    The birth of Daoji''s nine incense scars had already sent shock waves through the crowd, and now, seeing the twelve incense scars on Jiang Liu''s head, everyone felt their minds go nk.


    With a tter, right in front of Jiang Liu, the monk holding the Great Incense dropped the extinguished Great Incense to the ground, his body slightly trembling.


    With his own hands, he had created twelve incense scars, which was a tremendous shock to him.


    Next to him, the Emperor of Great Tang, Li Shimin, also widened his eyes, seriously examining the incense scars on Jiang Liu''s head, his expression incrediblyplex.


    By Li Shimin''s side, Princess Gaoyang was covering her lips with both hands, watching Jiang Liu in disbelief.


    Unlike the shock of others, what filled Princess Gaoyang''s heart was even more so despair...


    Originally, Princess Gaoyang and Jiang Liu had privately vowed to be together for life, agreeing that after the Incense Offering Ceremony, they would elope and be a pair of martial lovers.


    Yet, looking at the twelve incense scars before her, despair filled Princess Gaoyang''s heart.


    At this moment, Jiang Liu was also stunned, feeling his mind go nk. The simultaneous chanting and ringing of bells, the flowers falling from the sky, the appearance of the Earth-Spawned Golden Lotus¡ªas the main character of all these events, Jiang Liu himself was taken aback.


    Had something gone wrong with the Incense Offering Ceremony?


    Otherwise, how could he possibly have received incense scars, let alone twelve of them?


    The meaning of the incense scars was to represent one''s destiny with the Buddhist Sect in this world. He wasn''t even from this world, but had transmigrated from another, so how could he have a destiny with the Buddhism of this world? Therefore, Jiang Liu had always believed that he would not receive any incense scars, and indeed, he had never considered bing a monk.


    However, the scene that unfolded today, all these urrences before his eyes, were beyond Jiang Liu''s belief.


    A full twelve incense scars made Jiang Liu feel as if his mind was nk, almost insufficient.


    With a mind devoid of thought, Jiang Liu almost reflexively raised his head to look towards Princess Gaoyang.


    In his view, Princess Gaoyang covered her lips with her hands, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with the color of despair.


    Watching Princess Gaoyang, scenes of them fighting side by side against the Wolf Demon, supporting each other, descending the mountain to seek vengeance at Esquire Zhang''s home, and the attack of the Three-Eyed Crow, with Princess Gaoyang risking her life to save him...


    Every moment of their time together, along with the promises he had made, all surfaced in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    He had once promised that even if he received incense scars during the Incense Offering Ceremony, he would leave monastic life and be a couple of martial lovers with Princess Gaoyang.


    He had also vowed that even if she were of royal identity, he would defeat demons to level up and be strong, strong enough tomand respect from Emperor Li Shimin of Tang, willing to betroth Princess Gaoyang to him.


    "Congrattions... Jinshan Temple''s Jiang Liu, you, you have received twelve incense scars, in the future, you will surely be able to..." ¡ªIn front of Jiang Liu, the monk who had performed the Incense Offering Ceremony was so emotionally stirred that his speech faltered, but his words of congrattions came from the heart.


    Twelve incense scars, there had never been anyone with such a Buddhist destiny; could this person be a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva or even the Buddha from Western Spirit Mountain? Otherwise, who could have such a Buddhist fate?


    "Wait a moment!" ¡ªBut hearing the monk''s words, before he could finish speaking, Jiang Liu abruptly shouted, interrupting him, and at the same time, he stood up.


    In the za, whether it was monks, wealthy individuals, or even the Emperor, everyone looked at Jiang Liu with surprise, not understanding what he was doing.


    Under the gaze of the crowd, Jiang Liu stood up, stripped off his grey and worn monk''s robe, and scanned his eyes over everyone present, pausing slightly on Princess Gaoyang.


    His words were startling, like a p of thunder.


    "I am leaving monastic life!"


    (PS: A new book is like a tender sapling that needs the irrigation of rmendation tickets to grow. Dear readers enjoying the updates, please sneak a few rmendation tickets my way, thank you...)

 Chapter 31 I am Tang Monk!? (Please Vote for Recommendation)

    Jiang Liu''s words, like a p of thunder, left everyone present in disbelief, staring at him.


    Twelve incense scars, unprecedented. The recent marvel of chaotic blossoms and the faint sound of Zen had everyone tongue-tied. In everyone''s eyes, Jiang Liu was destined to be a leader akin to the Buddhist Sect, possibly even a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva from Western Spirit Mountain.


    To have such a destiny with Buddha, yet to proim a desire to return to secr life?


    In contemporary society, this would be akin to the top national university entrance exam scorer suddenly dering a wish to drop out and work¡ªit was inconceivable!


    "No way!" A roar like a lion''s bellow erupted, and in an instant, the Saint Monk Longhai moved like the wind to stand before Jiang Liu, staring earnestly at the twelve incense scars on Jiang Liu''s head, his eyes filled with shock.


    "Saint Monk Longhai, whether to renounce the world or return to secr life should be a matter of personal choice, right?" said Jiang Liu, standing firm in front of Longhai.


    "Ordinary monks may leave the order, but you cannot!" Longhai took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his astonishment at the twelve incense scars, and said with unwavering conviction.


    As a monk with a record-breaking twelve scars, to return to secr life?


    Allowing such a wish toe true would be a huge blow to the Buddhist Sect''s prestige. Could the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of Western Heaven forgive me for it?


    Firstly, with a stern countenance, Longhai refused Jiang Liu''s desire to leave the monastic life, signifying there was absolutely no room for negotiation. Then, Saint Monk Longhai''s expression softened, revealing a gentle smile.


    It might have been a misperception, but it almost seemed like he was trying to appease or tter: "You are from Jinshan Temple, right? Leaving the order is impossible, but if you have any conditions, just state them. As long as it''s within my power¡­"


    With a silent sigh, Saint Monk Longhai also felt a tremendous pressure at that moment.


    Known as the number one monk within Great Tang''s realm, if this disciple with twelve scars were to leave the order in his presence, all the responsibility would fall on him.


    Therefore, he must use every means possible to rid Jiang Liu of the thought of returning to secr life.


    Looking at Longhai''s conciliatory smile, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but think of the face of a parent from modern society, cajoling an unwilling child to go to school, strikingly simr to the present Saint Monk Longhai.


    "I don''t want to be a monk. I want to drink wine and eat meat¡­" Since Saint Monk Longhai had asked what requirements he had, Jiang Liu held nothing back and expressed his honest thoughts.


    As he spoke, Jiang Liu''s gaze nonchntly swept over Princess Gaoyang standing nearby, and he continued, "Moreover, I want to take a wife and have children."


    "This¡­" Jiang Liu''s words stunned Saint Monk Longhai into silence, leaving him unsure how to respond.


    Had it been any other matter, as long as he was capable, he would have agreed to stabilize Jiang Liu. However, these were requests that Longhai found difficult to fulfill.


    As a monk with twelve scars who was destined to be an example to monks everywhere, how could he drink alcohol, eat meat, and marry?


    Could he agree to such a request? Did he dare agree to it?


    What''s more, even if he stepped back ten thousand paces and agreed, could he do so under the scrutiny of all these witnesses?


    "Amitabha, this cannot be done! You should stay in Great Buddha Temple and calm down for a few days," said Longhai, not wanting to continue the conversation in front of the eager crowd, cing his hand on Jiang Liu''s shoulder.


    As he spoke, Saint Monk Longhai''s eyes swept over all those gathered and said, "The Incense Offering Ceremony shall continue without interruption. However, I have important matters that require consulting Buddha Tathagata, so I must take my leave first."


    The appearance of a disciple with twelve scars and an unprecedented deep connection with Buddha might even be a reincarnation from Western Spirit Mountain.


    For Saint Monk Longhai to seek the will of Buddha regarding this affair seemed reasonable.


    After giving his instructions and without the inclination to bid farewell to Emperor Li Shimin, Saint Monk Longhai, with his hand still on Jiang Liu''s shoulder, turned and walked towards the main hall, quickly disappearing from view.


    As the Saint Monk Longhai''s hand rested on his shoulder, Jiang Liu felt as though he had be a puppet on strings, his movements no longer under his control.


    It wasn''t until Longhai had virtually pushed Jiang Liu into the grand hall and released his hand that he let go.


    The spacious hall, likely covering thousands of square meters, was dominated by a colossal Tathagata Statue exuding a solemn and majestic aura. Inside the hall, a young monk was already present¡ªit was Daoji, the one with the nine incense scars.


    "Greetings, Elder Brother!" Daoji lowered his head and brought his palms together in a respectful salute upon seeing Jiang Liu.


    After ncing at Daoji, Jiang Liu had no desire to speak with him and took no pleasure in teasing him for addressing him as Elder Brother. Instead, he turned his head and red at the Saint Monk Longhai.


    Unperturbed by Jiang Liu''s re, the Saint Monk Longhai simply walked to the statue of the Tathagata, knelt down, and lowered his head as if whispering something.


    Standing behind the Saint Monk Longhai, Jiang Liu and Daoji exchanged looks, puzzled by what he was doing.


    Jiang Liu opened his mouth, ready to speak, resolved to leave the Great Buddha Temple and adamant about returning to secr life.


    But just then, the venerated Tathagata Statue suddenly shone with dazzling Buddhist Light, and the statue''s eyes, which had been looking down, seemed to lift slightly, opening its eyes.


    "The Buddha has revealed his spirit!" Daoji quickly knelt down upon witnessing the miraculous change in the Tathagata Statue.


    However, although the statue had revealed its spirit, the Tathagata Statue did not speak. Suddenly, a piece of paper appeared in mid-air and drifted down like a snowke, gentlynding in front of the Saint Monk Longhai.


    With his consciousness slightly blurred, as if just awakening from sleep, Jiang Liu looked again at the Tathagata Statue. Where was the Buddhist Light? The statue remained as majestic and solemn as before, as if everything that had just happened was merely a dream, an illusion of his own making.


    But when Jiang Liu noticed Daoji still kneeling on the ground, he realized that what had just urred was certainly no dream.


    By this time, the Saint Monk Longhai had also stood up and turned to walk over.


    "Master, just now..." Daoji also stood, his expression one of surprise as he questioned Longhai.


    He had clearly witnessed a divine manifestation, but it felt as though it had been a dream, and he didn''t understand what was happening.


    The Saint Monk Longhai did not answer, but simply raised his hand slightly, silencing him.


    Walking straight up to Jiang Liu, Longhai''s gaze fell upon him and he said, "From today onward, you will stay here at the Great Buddha Temple for solitary practice. The name Jiang Liu is just a secr moniker. In your generation at Jinshan Temple, you are of the ''Xuan'' generation."


    Upon saying this, the Saint Monk Longhai paused for a moment before adding, "From now on, your Dharma name will be Xuanzang."


    They didn''t give him a chance to choose, forcibly keeping him in the Buddhist Sect andpelling him to be a monk, which infuriated Jiang Liu.


    However, just as he was about to vocally refute, upon hearing the Dharma name given by the Saint Monk Longhai, Jiang Liu froze, taken aback.


    Xuan... Xuanzang!?


    With a thunderous realization, this Dharma name struck Jiang Liu as if lightning had hit him.


    In an era of the Great Tang, with Li Shimin as Emperor and a world filled with demons, ghosts, and myriad deities and Buddhas, his Dharma name was Xuanzang, and his nickname Jiang Liu?


    All of this, it seemed, corresponded perfectly with the Tang Monk from Journey to the West...


    "Could it be!? Am I the Tang Monk!? And this body, is it the reincarnation of Tathagata''s second disciple, Master Golden Cicada!?"


    In disbelief, Jiang Liu thought, while the reason he could bear twelve incense scars seemed to make sense.


    (PS: Asking for rmendation tickets, let''s surge up the new book rankings together; with two updates every day, striving to keep updating...)

 Chapter 32 Buddhist Treasure Vidyaraja Crown (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, there''s no need to speak again of leaving the monastic life,"


    With his hands joined together, Saint Monk Longhai''s expression remained calm, but his words carried an undeniable firmness, "As you say, whether to secrize is indeed a matter of personal will, but you have received twelve incense scars, and your fate with our Buddha Sect is profoundly deep. If you were to leave the monastic life, where would our Buddhist Sect stand with honor in Great Tang?


    You should calm down for a couple of days before we discuss this again."


    Having dropped this line, Saint Monk Longhai didn''t say anything more and turned to leave the hall.


    Watching Longhai''s departing figure, Jiang Liu''splexion was unsightly.


    The situation had developed to this unforeseen stage¡ªwho would have thought that with a more than ny percent failure rate of the Incense Offering Ceremony, not only had he passed, but he had also received twelve incense scars?


    Although he very much wanted to secrize, Jiang Liu had to admit that there was some truth in what Longhai said; the more incense scars one had, the more difficult it was to secrize.


    Having received twelve incense scars, his bond with the Buddhist Sect was incredibly deep; secrizing would be even more difficult than marrying Princess Gaoyang, wouldn''t it?


    "Brother, you, you actually want to secrize?" With nine incense scars on his head, Daoji looked at Jiang Liu in disbelief, clearly startled by Saint Monk Longhai''s words.


    To have received twelve incense scars and still wish to secrize?


    "Now you call me ''brother''? Weren''t you quite tough before?" Looking at Daoji, Jiang Liu spoke irritably.


    "Previously this disciple was impolite. I hope elder brother will not remember the transgressions of this junior, and also, I thank elder brother for your mercy that day," Daoji bowed his head, with no trace of his former toughness left. The unprecedented twelve incense scars made Daoji lose any intention to argue with Jiang Liu.


    "Alright, you may go. I want to be alone for a while," Jiang Liu waved his hand, having no intent to continue the conversation with Daoji.


    At this time, Jiang Liu''s mind was somewhat in chaos, while his heart was filled with anger and helplessness.


    With an appearance of humility and politeness, Daoji made a gesture of respect to Jiang Liu and then turned to leave the hall.


    Sitting silently on the side of the hall, Jiang Liu''s thoughts were cluttered. Today''s events were indeed unexpected, but, since they had happened, naturally, he had to think of a way to resolve the present issue.


    First and foremost, the urgent task was the matter of his secrization. Merely speaking of it, Longhai would certainly not agree; what could he do to achieve it?


    Or rather, to take a step back, how could he escape from the Great Buddha Temple?


    Next, there was the issue of his identity. With the Dharma name Xuanzang, was he really the Tang Monk?


    The world to which he had crossed over, could it be the world of the Journey to the West?


    Regarding this point, he also needed to investigate clearly.


    ...


    Two days passed in the blink of an eye. During these two days, the whole of Chang''an City was thoroughly astir, shocked by the news of a monk with twelve incense scars.


    Moreover, the phenomenon of flowers raining disorderly and the Earth-Spawned Golden Lotus that everyone in Chang''an City had seen made the situation all the more sensational.


    Therefore, the past couple of days saw countless citizens rushing to the Great Buddha Temple to offer incense and worship Buddha, and even many high monks came to visit the temple, wanting to see Jiang Liu for themselves, but all these matters were blocked by Saint Monk Longhai.


    Early this day, Saint Monk Longhai had someone send Xuanwu out of the temple, not only forcibly keeping Jiang Liu in the Great Buddha Temple but also having Xuanwu stay for two days. From his mouth, Longhai learned in detail about Jiang Liu''s affairs.


    "Ah, such is the power of love..." After sending Xuanwu away and learning about the rtionship between Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang, Longhai sighed softly to himself.


    "Master, the feelings between Brother Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang are indeed profound; this matter will not be easy to handle, will it?" Beside him, Daoji spoke up.


    Daoji had thoroughly recounted to Saint Monk Longhai the incident where he had encountered Jiang Liu with Princess Gaoyang.


    Nine incense scars had made him a direct disciple of Longhai, and for the past two days, Daoji had been constantly by Longhai''s side.


    "Hmm, indeed not easy to deal with, and thus forcefully keeping someone at the Great Buddha Temple also goes against reason, it seems we can only stabilize him for now," with a silent sigh, Saint Monk Longhai felt somewhat vexed.


    Why wasn''t it good for someone like Daoji, who had many incense scars, to obediently be a monk?


    Or to say, if it were anyone else who wanted to return to secr life, Longhai couldn''t be bothered to care.


    But Jiang Liu, of all people, after receiving twelve incense scars, was making a fuss about returning to secr life. Over thest couple of days, he had tried several times to escape from the Great Buddha Temple, which left Longhai feeling helpless.


    Having a monk with twelve incense scars was indeed a cause for celebration, but for him, it was a troublesome matter of life and death.


    And it was trouble that he couldn''t avoid.


    "Master, if you ept him as your disciple, he will be a disciple of our Great Buddha Temple. Even if we keep him here by force, it would still be reasonable, right?" Daoji asked with a look of surprise, not understanding why his master wouldn''t take Jiang Liu as a disciple as well.


    "No, under the heavens, which monk is qualified to take him as a disciple? Even I am not qualified," Longhai shook his head, rejecting Daoji''s proposal.


    Longhai''s words startled Daoji, yet they seemed to make sense.


    Under the heavens, indeed, there was no one qualified to be the master of a monk with twelve incense scars.


    "Let''s go. The heart of the youth is soft to persuasion but resistant to force. I''vee to understand him somewhat. I hope we can stabilize him," after a moment of silence and carefully organizing the information he had gathered about Jiang Liu these past two days, Longhai took Daoji with him and turned to look for Jiang Liu.


    It wasn''t topel him to agree to be a monk, but simply to temporarily dispel his thoughts of returning to secr life for now; they would figure out the restter.


    ...


    "Hey, Longhai, when will you let me go!?" Having been in the Great Buddha Temple for two days and having tried to escape several times, only to be stopped by the Martial Monks each time, Jiang Liu didn''t mince words when he finally saw Longhai again, directly getting to the point.


    "Amitabha, it seems you are truly determined to return to secr life. In that case, go ahead then..." with his hands pressed together, Saint Monk Longhai let out a low sigh, gesturing to let Jiang Liu leave.


    Jiang Liu was stunned by Longhai''s words.


    Forced to stay for two days, he didn''t expect to suddenly be given permission to leave.


    Daoji, too, looked at his master with surprise, unsure what his master was nning.


    "So, I can just leave?" Despite being surprised, since Longhai was willing to let him go, there was no reason for Jiang Liu to stay. He said as he got up.


    "Of course, you can leave whenever you wish, but before you do, there is one thing I would like to ask. Once you step out of the Great Buddha Temple, where do you n to go?"


    "Go where?" This question stopped Jiang Liu in his tracks.


    He had been pondering over the identity of Tang Monk and his own desire to leave the monkhood these past two days; he had not really considered where to go after leaving.


    "Don''t worry about where I''m going. I''m leaving the Great Buddha Temple, that''s all there is to it," Jiang Liu said, waving his hand.


    "In the past two days, I havee to hear of your situation. You wish to leave the monkhood, presumably because of a promise made to Princess Gaoyang, right? Do you think that after leaving, the Emperor will consent to give Princess Gaoyang to you in marriage? Let alone the fact that you have received twelve incense scars, which binds you deeply to the Buddhist Sect.


    Even as an ordinary person, a union with the Princess would be impossible."


    After a brief pause, without waiting for Jiang Liu''s response, Longhai continued, "Furthermore, if you are willing to stay, I can impart all the Martial Arts and Divine Skills of the Great Buddha Temple to you. You must understand that without sufficient strength, any ambition you harbor is but an empty dream."


    With these words, Longhai brought out a Monk Hat and said, "This is the Vidyaraja Crown, a Defense Buddhist Treasure. Regardless of whether you stay or not, you are after all connected with Buddha; this Vidyaraja Crown is given to you for your protection."


    (PS: Please vote for rmendation, thank you. Let''s work hard together. Also, tentatively two updates a day, at 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m....)

 Chapter 33 Legendary Level Growth Equipment (Vote for Recommendations)

    Reason it out to them, and appeal to their interests.


    Even Saint Monk Longhai felt a sense of helplessness in his heart. Ever since he became a holy monk, almost everyone had sought him out for favors. But today, it was he who was imploring Xuanzang, asking him not to leave the monastic life, which was truly a painstaking effort.


    Longhai was well aware that if he insisted on leaving the monastery, and if he himself were to adamantly refuse, or even resort to using force to suppress him, this would only cause the other party to feel more repulsed and rebellious.


    Therefore, he could only indulge him for now, stabilizing the situation temporarily, and then gradually make ns for the future.


    As he looked at the Vidyaraja Crown that Saint Monk Longhai had taken out, Jiang Liu didn''t rush to ept it. Instead, he looked earnestly at Longhai and said, "Are you implying that you are willing to teach me Divine Skills, agree to everything, and even, when I be stronger in the future, you would allow me to marry the princess?"


    "Amitabha, if you wish to marry the princess, naturally I would oppose it. But if in the future you manage to defeat me, then that naturally would be your own capability, and I, the poor monk, would no longer be able to stop you," Longhai intoned a low Buddhist chant and then looked solemnly at Jiang Liu as he spoke.


    In Longhai''s eyes, even though Jiang Liu had twelve prayer scars and a deep Buddhist connection, the practice of cultivation was something that umted over days and months.


    To reach his current level, he himself had spent decades. Even with his guidance, for Jiang Liu to grow to his current level, or even to catch up and defeat him, would likewise need decades, wouldn''t it?


    With such a long time, he would have plenty of ways to properly train him.


    The response from Longhai caused Jiang Liu to quietly reflect. He had already promised to court Gaoyang in an honorable manner and had resolved to diligently level up by fighting monsters and be strong enough to be worthy of Gaoyang.


    Looking at it this way, staying temporarily at the Great Buddha Temple and utilizing its resources to enhance his strength didn''t conflict with his original ns, did it? It might even be beneficial?


    Although he understood Longhai''s intentions, Jiang Liu could still appreciate that his words had merit.


    Even if he left now, attempting to court Gaoyang would be an impossibility!


    After making up his mind, Jiang Liu reached out and took the Monk Hat from Longhai''s hands. As a Buddhist Treasure meant to impress him, this Monk Hat looked quite luxurious, with a blend of gold and red, and several gemstones embedded on it.


    Naturally, as Jiang Liu''s gaze fell upon the Vidyaraja Crown, the relevant attribute information also appeared before him.


    Vidyaraja Crown (Legendary Quality): No level requirement, Defense +100 (10-100,000, depending on one''s own level), with a special effect: Can convert 10% of the damage inflicted upon the target into one''s own health, Durability 67/100.


    Looking at the attribute information of the Vidyaraja Crown in his hand, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath. Generally, equipment with good attributes has level requirements. For instance, his Demon-Subduing Staff was equipment that required level 10 to use.


    Unexpectedly, the Vidyaraja Crown turned out to be a piece of equipment with no level requirement.


    His Demon-Subduing Staff, the only Perfect Quality equipment he had, only increased his Attack Power by 70 points, whereas the additional Defense from the Vidyaraja Crown was already 100 points, not to mention that it''s a growth-type equipment. As his level increased, the Defense would be even stronger, potentially reaching up to 100,000 points.


    Moreover, the apanying special effect was extremely practical¡ªa 10% damage conversion into personal healing effect, which was essentially a life-stealing effect!


    Overall, given the Legendary Quality of this Vidyaraja Crown, it was undoubtedly a great treasure. Longhai was willing to give the Vidyaraja Crown to him, which showed that his sincerity was indeed full.


    "In that case, I thank the holy monk. In the future, I will inevitably spar with the brothers at the Great Buddha Temple. I hope that when the timees, the holy monk can grant me this favor..." After epting the Vidyaraja Crown, Jiang Liu immediately put the Monk Hat on his head and spoke.


    Acquiring a powerful piece of equipment was not enough; he also intended to use the monks of the Great Buddha Temple as materials for leveling up. As he spoke these words, even Jiang Liu''s face flushed slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    However, as he was speaking, Jiang Liu''s gaze lingered for a moment on Daoji.


    In his view, Daoji seemed to be a good target for leveling up, and being taken as a disciple by Saint Monk Longhai, his growth rate in the future should also be quite fast.


    ```


    Does this mean he will be a human-shaped monster with the potential for growth? Can I grind a few more runs on it? Dozens of runs? Hundreds of runs?


    "Senior brother, why are you looking at me like that?" Although Daoji had no idea what was going through Jiang Liu''s mind, he couldn''t help but tremble slightly from the gaze that Jiang Liu was giving him, instinctively feeling a bit uneasy.


    "Certainly, since you''ve decided to stay at Great Buddha Temple, if you want to learn supernatural powers like Subduing Demons and Eliminating Evil, I''m naturally willing to teach you everything I have!" The Saint Monk Longhai was thrilled. Jiang Liu''s words clearly indicated that he had agreed to stay.


    Longhai had already learned that, although Jiang Liu had not yet officially be a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, he had learned martial arts like Arhat Fist, which showed his keen interest in martial arts.


    By offering the Vidyaraja Crown and promising to teach him Divine Skills, Longhai was catering to Jiang Liu''s interests, and it seemed to be working quite well.


    "Since you''re ready to teach me everything, why not start right now?" Jiang Liu asked Longhai earnestly, his face full of anticipation.


    Silencing Zen (Primary Level): Requires level 1, long-distance release, can silence the target for 2 seconds; during this state, the target cannot release any skills, cooldown time 30 seconds.


    Arhat Fist (High-Level): Increases attack power by 25%, duration 180 seconds.


    Vajra Mantra (Primary Level): Summons the mysterious power of Vajra to bless an ally, reducing the next damage taken by 80%, cooldown time 50 seconds.


    Swift Fire Bead (Great Perfection): Fires a ball of me, which can cause single-target damage to any target within a 10-meter radius, attack power +100%, cooldown time 10 seconds.


    Skills are generally divided into four levels: Primary Level, Middle Level, High-Level, and Great Perfection. These four skills totaled up to using 9 skill points.


    Having reached level 10, Jiang Liu had 10 skill points, and with one skill point still unallocated, he naturally wanted to see if Saint Monk Longhai had any powerful skills to teach him.


    There was no help for it; monk professions mostly focus on support and control, seriouslycking in offensive abilities. If it weren''t for the State Amplification of Arhat Fist and the Skill Bookcase allowing him to use the spell attack of Swift Fire Bead, his leveling speed would definitely be even slower.


    "Ah? Now!? Even the usuallyposed Saint Monk Longhai was taken aback by Jiang Liu''s words.


    Although Longhai had long known that Jiang Liu was extremely interested in martial arts, he had not expected him to be so impatient.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t want to do it now? Then when should we wait until?" Jiang Liu replied with a question.


    "No, there''s nothing wrong with it, if you want to learn, I am naturally willing to teach you," Saint Monk Longhai said upon hearing Jiang Liu''s words.


    If he had already decided to impart the Divine Skills of Subduing Demons and Eliminating Evil to them, what difference did it make whether it was sooner orter?


    Without wasting any more time, Saint Monk Longhai, along with Jiang Liu and Daoji, moved to a spacious and quiet courtyard, where he became visibly more solemn.


    "To talk about the Divine Skills of Subduing Demons and Eliminating Evil, our Great Buddha Temple naturally takes great pride in the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound. This cultivation technique not only has the ability to suppress demons with Zen sounds, but during regr cultivation, it can also help improve one''s cultivation level.


    However, the more powerful a Buddhist Divine Skill is, the deeper the affinity required to practice it, and so far, I have not found a suitable sessor. Today, I shall pass on the first two levels of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to both of you."


    "Thank you, Master!" Daoji was overjoyed to hear that he was going to be taught the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound and bowed in gratitude.


    Daoji had certainly heard of the resounding reputation of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound from the Great Buddha Temple.


    Although Jiang Liu had never heard of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, seeing how excited Daoji was, he knew that it must be a renowned supernatural power. He felt happy and was also secretly looking forward to learning it.


    What exactly is the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound like?


    (PS: It seems like our ranking on the new book list is continuously dropping, brothers and sisters, let''s rally, rise up, and hold steady...)


    ```

 Chapter 34 Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound (Request for Recommendation Tickets)

    Jinshan Temple, located about twenty li outside of Chang''an City on a small mountain, looked somewhat dpidated. Besides Senior Abbot Faming, who had two incense scars, the others¡ªXuankong, Xuanwu, and Xuanming¡ªeach only had one. As a result, Jinshan Temple was not flourishing, the monks lived in straitened circumstances, and it was almost at the point of closing down.


    However, Jinshan Temple had changed now. With Jiang Liu having revealed twelve incense scars a few days ago during the Incense Offering Ceremony at the Great Buddha Temple, it seemed as if one man had found his path to enlightenment, and even the chickens and dogs ascended to heaven with him.


    Two days ago, a monk from the Great Buddha Temple with six incense scars personally delivered a batch of supplies and silver coins, saying that from now on, Jiang Liu would stay at the Great Buddha Temple to cultivate beside the Saint Monk Longhai.


    It was not just the monks from the Great Buddha Temple who personally delivered supplies; even in these recent few days, a continuous stream of worshippers came to offer incense and prayers at Jinshan Temple, naturally leaving behind much incense money, making the temple incredibly lively.


    Some wealthy families, full of extravagance, waved their hands generously, ready to renovate every part of Jinshan Temple.


    With the emergence of a monk with twelve incense scars, the entire Great Tang was shaken, and naturally, Jinshan Temple, where Jiang Liu had lived from childhood, also rose to fame.


    In these recent days, Xuanming, the reception monk, was so busy receiving worshippers that he was more tired than an ox.


    From being the most rxed person in the temple, he became the busiest. Whether a psychological effect or not, Xuanming felt that he had lost a few pounds in these past few days.


    Although it was Jiang Liu''s newfound fame that led to Jinshan Temple''s current unprecedented bustling scene, as time passed and the fervor diminished, Jinshan Temple''s situation would inevitably decline significantly.


    However, whatever the case, it was certain to be much better than before Jiang Liu had left, that was inevitable.


    ...


    Leaving aside the changes at Jinshan Temple for a moment, these past few days, both Jiang Liu and Daoji had been in the Great Buddha Temple, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound''s Divine Skills under Saint Monk Longhai.


    After several days of cultivation, Daoji had made progress in the art of cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    Watching Daoji seated in meditation, circting his internal breath, it almost seemed like one could faintly hear the sound of a dragon''s roar. Saint Monk Longhai, looking pleased, slightly nodded his head.


    Daoji, having marked nine incense scars, seemed to be cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound even quicker than Longhai himself had in his younger years.


    If all went well, it would take another ten days or half a month to master the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    However, when Saint Monk Longhai''s gaze shifted to Jiang Liu, who was sitting cross-legged without any reaction, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.


    Inparison to Daoji, Jiang Liu''s cultivation was deplorably poor.


    The reason was that when he was taught to cultivate, he did not even recognize the meridians and acupoints.


    This made Longhai doubt how he had managed to cultivate the Arhat Fist.


    It had taken two full days to make him remember the conditions of the meridians and acupoints throughout his body. Now, despite having been taught the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound for several days, he had gained nothing; he seemed just like an ordinary person, not at all like a disciple who had marked twelve incense scars.


    After a long while, a somber bell rang, signaling that it was time for lunch.


    Dalji, who had been cultivating, opened his eyes, halted his practice, and the faint sound of the dragon''s roar also dissipated. He stood up, looking spirited.


    "Master, I feel like I have begun to grasp the firstyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound. With a bit more time, I should be able to master it," said Daoji cheerfully as he stood up and spoke to Longhai.


    "Hmm, your progress in cultivation is slightly faster than what I achieved in my time, very good," said Saint Monk Longhai with a smile on his face as he nodded.


    Pleased at heart, for a master, it was certainly a joyous matter to encounter a smart disciple who cultivated rapidly.


    Receiving his master''s praise, Daoji felt even more joyful, only ncing at Jiang Liu, who was still sitting quietly beside him, he hesitated slightly, "It''s just that, my elder brother Xuanzang..."


    "It seems that although Xuanzang is deeply destined with our Buddhist Sect, his aptitude for cultivation is poor," Longhai said in a low sigh, looking at Jiang Liu sitting in meditation with his eyes closed.


    Hu... Hu...


    However, as Longhai and Daoji approached, the faint sounds of snoring left Daoji dumbstruck.


    Even Longhai''s mouth twitched unbelievingly. He must have fallen asleep, right!?


    Practicing the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, he had actually fallen asleep?


    "Brother! Brother!", following Longhai''s hint, Daoji stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and woke Jiang Liu.


    "Ah?", rubbing his eyes, Jiang Liu opened them and looked around in a groggy manner.


    Seeing his lethargic appearance, Longhai''s face turned angry, and he opened his mouth to scold him but paused briefly and then spoke earnestly, "Xuanzang, one must not bex in cultivation. With your approach, when will you ever master the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound?"


    "Holy Monk, I was not actually sleeping; I have mastered the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound in my dream...", seeing the Holy Monk Longhai wanting to scold but holding back, Jiang Liu felt somewhat ashamed, yet he defended himself.


    The cultivation of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound required emptying the mind to contemte the sound of the dragon''s chant within it.


    However, for Jiang Liu, sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes, and emptying his mind to imagine the sound of a dragon? He would fall asleep in just a moment.


    Thus, having practiced for many days, there had been no progress in his cultivation of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound until now.


    "Ah? You''ve mastered it?", hearing Jiang Liu''s words, both Holy Monk Longhai and Daoji wore expressions of surprise.


    Hadn''t he made no progress at all? And yet he imed to have mastered it?


    "Xuanzang, monks do not lie. If you haven''t mastered it, you should simply practice diligently," Longhai shook his head, clearly disbelieving Jiang Liu''s words, as he had witnessed Jiang Liu''sck of progress over these days.


    "Yes, brother, if you just diligently cultivate, with your twelve Scar of Precepts, I believe you can soon catch up to my progress, as long as you stop sleeping," Daoji, clearly disbelieving that Jiang Liu had already mastered it, chimed in.


    Of course, given Jiang Liu''sck of progress while he had already started to grasp the principles, Daoji''s expression was somewhat smug as he spoke.


    What did twelve Scar of Precepts matter? Wasn''t his progress in cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound still slower than his own?


    "Junior brother, you are dangerously tempting fate here. How about we spar and see?", seeing Daoji''s smug look, Jiang Liu''s gaze fell on him, and he suggested.


    "Sure, brother, you spar with other junior brothers every afternoon, I would also like to learn a few moves from you," nodding his head, Daoji appeared eager to try.


    During the previous Incense Offering Ceremony, Daoji had challenged him, seeking to avenge that day''s defeat.


    Despite his identity as one with twelve Scar of Precepts causing awe, when it came to fighting, it depended on each person''s cultivation and techniques, not the quantity of scars.


    "Amitabha, let''s have lunch first", regarding the sparring between Jiang Liu and Daoji, Holy Monk Longhai showed no intention of stopping it, just suggested everyone finish lunch first.


    The trio then left the great hall.


    However, Jiang Liu found an excuse, saying he needed to use the restroom, and told Holy Monk Longhai and Daoji to go ahead first.


    He turned back to his Zen Room, sat down on the rosewood chair, and picked up the ivory brush beside him to write vigorously.


    Although there had been no progress in cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, having taught it for a few days, Jiang Liu had already memorized the first two levels of the technique.


    After spending some time, Jiang Liu then wrote down the cultivation technique of the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound from memory.


    Notice: Would you like to spend 1 skill point to learn the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound?


    As Jiang Liu finished writing, the game system''s prompt, as expected, appeared.


    (PS: Please vote for rmendation, seeking lots and lots of votes...)

 Chapter 35 The Realms of Cultivators (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

    Under the guidance of Saint Monk Longhai, Jiang Liu had been cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound for some days. He had not intended to use Skill Points to learn it, wanting to see if he could learn a non-system skill through cultivation, just like anyone else.


    However, after so many days of cultivation, he had gained nothing, which filled Jiang Liu with a sense of helpless frustration.


    It seemed that he should just use Skill Points to learn skills honestly. It was convenient and fast, and there was no need to spend so much effort and cause himself unnecessary trouble.


    With the system''s prompt, Jiang Liu didn''t hesitate to make his choice. After spending 1 Skill Point, a sense of enlightenment rose in his mind, and he sessfully learned the firstyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound (First Layer): Emit a dragon chant from the mouth that can repel all targets in the vicinity, Attack Power +50, Cooldown Time 300 seconds; In the normal state of cultivation, gain 1 Experience Point every 10 seconds, to improve to the next level, Level 11 is required.


    "Hmm, indeed, learning skills this way is definitely the most convenient for me¡­" Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction after reviewing the new skill he had acquired.


    Indeed, spending time on cultivating skills didn''t suit him at all. With that time, he would rather y demons and level up morefortably.


    Of course, Jiang Liu also found the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound skill very powerful. It was his first area-of-effect attack skill that could not only repel targets but also add an increase to Attack Power.


    What''s important is that the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound is not just a simple skill but also a cultivation method.


    Could it be that when he meditates and cultivates, he would gain Experience Points, which in essence means increasing his Cultivation Level?


    The repelling control effect, the area effect of the attack, the additional 50 Attack Power, plus the increase in Cultivation Level during meditation...


    The benefits of the firstyer of Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound were quiteprehensive and powerful, rightfully so, as it was a famous supernatural power of the Great Buddha Temple.


    Moreover, the skill levels of other skills generally are divided into Primary Level, Middle Level, High-Level, and Great Perfection, but Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound disyed it as the "First Layer."


    It looks like I''ll need to keep spending Skill Points to improve.


    "Eh, wait, can the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound level up further?" Jiang Liu focused his attention on the skill, and then he suddenly realized that, like other skills, the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound could continue to be enhanced by investing more points.


    "The one I silently recited was just the method for the firstyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, right? I can learn it by just learning the firstyer? I don''t need to see the method for the secondyer and can directly improve to the secondyer by adding points?" Jiang Liu was shocked and amazed as he saw the option to elevate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    If that''s really the case, then in the future, if he came across other divine skills, even if they were iplete and he just had the firstyer, he could learn theplete version?


    He had been at the Great Buddha Temple for some days. Every morning, he would follow Longhai to cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, and in the afternoon, he would spar with the disciples of the temple. During these days, by defeating many disciples, Jiang Liu had gained a fair amount of Experience Points, just enough to raise his level to 11.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Jiang Liu decided to use hisst Skill Point to try to raise the level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    Prompt: Not enough Skill Points, 2 Skill Points needed.


    "What?" Jiang Liu was taken aback by this pop-up prompt.


    This was the first time he had encountered a skill that required 2 Skill Points to level up. His previous skills, whether it was the Arhat Fist or the Swift Fire Bead, only needed 1 Skill Point to improve.


    ¡­


    A dining table was set with a delicious vegetarian meal. Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji sat opposite each other.


    Daoji ate with his head down, quickly, while Saint Monk Longhai dined in a leisurely manner.


    "Disciple, what do you think are your chances of victory in the uing spar with Jiang Liu?" With Daoji''s meal nearly finished and Jiang Liu yet to arrive, Longhai initiated the conversation.


    This question made Daoji involuntarily recall the scene when he had fought against Jiang Liu at Esquire Zhang''s ce.


    Even though my cultivation level was higher, I suddenly lost the ability to use my martial arts skills, which led to one wrong move, ending in total defeat. Today, my cultivation is deeper, and I''m on guard...


    "Master, if Brother Jiang Liu''s martial arts are the same as that day, I''m fully confident, a hundred percent sure. However, his cultivation level has also improved a lot these past days, and he has reached the Meridian Unblocking Realm. To be cautious, let''s say I''m eighty percent sure," Daoji said, appearing very confident.


    "Hmm, your cultivation level has long since reached the Meridian Unblocking Realm, while Jiang Liu has only reached this realm a few days ago, indeed your chances of winning are greater.


    However, strength is not solely determined by cultivation level; Dharma treasures, spells, and even the environment, temperament, strategy, and luck, etc., all these are crucial to the oue," Saint Monk Longhai nodded slightly as he offered his advice.


    "Thank you for your teachings, Master," Daoji nodded and replied.


    The dining hall of the Great Buddha Temple was vast,rge enough to amodate thousands of people dining at the same time. Normally, without any important matters, Longhai wouldn''t dine in his Zen Room.


    Although the area where he and Daoji sat was undisturbed by others sitting nearby, a few monks passing by still unconsciously listened to the conversation between the master and disciple.


    Soon, many monks and disciples in the dining hall began to whisper among themselves, and the news about the uing match between Jiang Liu and Daoji spread quickly.


    After hearing this news, many people perked up.


    In these days, Jiang Liu had been sparring with several young disciples every afternoon; everyone had more or less a concept of his martial arts abilities. But what about Daoji, as the direct disciple of Saint Monk Longhai? This made many people curious.


    After lunch, many young monks were not in a hurry to leave; they gathered in groups of three or five to chat idly, also waiting to see the two begin their match.


    It wasn''t long before Jiang Liu, wearing a blue monk''s robe, walked into the dining hall.


    He got himself a meal and sat down at the table beside Longhai, bowing his head to eat while also deeply contemting his own situation.


    Having stayed at the Great Buddha Temple for some days now, Jiang Liu had gained an understanding of the cultivation path in this world.


    For instance, demon creatures, as Gaoyang once said, differ in strength and are categorized as Demons, Demon Soldiers, Demon Generals, etc.


    Simrly, the cultivation path for humans is divided ording to the level of cultivation:, Qi Refinement, Meridian Unblocking, Body Tempering, Controlling-Law...


    So far, these are all Jiang Liu knows about the human cultivation path, he didn''t inquire about the realms beyond since they were still too distant for him.


    The Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, as Saint Monk Longhai has said, is divided into six levels.


    The first level can be cultivated in the Qi Refinement Realm, the second level requires the Meridian Unblocking Realm, the third level necessitates the Body Tempering Realm, and so on.


    Having learned the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, the skill disy showed that raising the skill level required level 11.


    Does that mean level 11 corresponds to the Meridian Unblocking Realm?


    And levels within 10 correspond to the Qi Cultivation Realm...


    Could it be? Is my character level, every 10 levels, corresponding to a different realm?


    Deep in thought about his own situation, he ate silently, without a word, and neither Longhai nor Daoji next to him showed any intention of disturbing him.


    Just like that, half an incense''s time quickly passed, and Jiang Liu''s meal waspletely finished.


    "Brother, please!"


    Having waited for so long and now seeing that he had finished eating, Daoji directly spoke up, issuing a challenge to Jiang Liu.


    (PS: Asking for rmendation tickets, I need lots and lots of them. Waking up at 5 a.m. to write, I suddenly found that my new book has dropped another rank, it breaks my heart...)

 Chapter 36 Jiang Liu VS Daoji (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

    "Alright, let''s go!" Hearing Daoji''s challenge, Jiang Liu stood up, knowing that someone would take care of the bowls and chopsticks on the table.


    Jiang Liu and Daoji got up and walked towards the Martial Arts Ground, with Saint Monk Longhai curiously harboring doubts in his heart.


    Although he didn''t believe Jiang Liu had truly learned the first level of Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, Jiang Liu''s demeanor didn''t seem like that of a liar.


    Half-convinced and half-doubtful, Saint Monk Longhai naturally followed them.


    In the dining hall, many monks were quietly discussing what they had heard about the challenge. They paid varying degrees of attention to the situation, noticing the two getting up to leave. These monks who had been waiting quietly also stood up and followed.


    The Martial Arts Ground was veryrge, about thirty meters long and wide. Jiang Liu stood still, wearing hemp shoes on his feet, a Vidyaraja Crown on his head, holding a Demon Subduing Staff in his hand, a Redwood Ring between his fingers, and around his neck hung a string of Sandalwood Buddha Beads.


    Though he was only level 11, Jiang Liu believed that with the boost from his equipment, he was very strong.


    Standing in front of Jiang Liu, Daoji was dressed in a white monk''s robe, with Shoes on his feet and a string of Chant Beads in his hand. His eyes discreetly paused for a moment on the Demon Subduing Staff in Jiang Liu''s hands.


    Other pieces of equipment were one thing, but during the meal, he had clearly seen Jiang Liu empty-handed. How did he suddenly have a staff in his hand in the blink of an eye?


    "As your senior brother, I''ll let you make the first move," Jiang Liu said, the Demon Subduing Staff in hand. With a thought, he executed the Arhat Fist Skill, his hands emitting a brilliant golden glow that attached to the staff, turning it into a golden rod.


    "Alright, then I won''t hold back!" Daoji nodded and without any intention to be courteous, also released the Arhat Fist Skill.


    A faint dragon-shaped aura coiled around him, showing that his Arhat Fist had reached the Great Perfection Realm.


    Daoji, with his higher level of cultivation, didn''t need fancy techniques. His n was to overwhelm with pure strength.


    Daoji moved quickly towards Jiang Liu, attacking with a palm strike that brought a fierce wind toward his face.


    Jiang Liu lifted the Demon Subduing Staff, blocking horizontally and holding it to his chest.


    Daoji''s palm struck the staff with a bang, the force of the blow making Jiang Liu stagger back several steps.


    "Such powerful strength; his cultivation is much higher than mine!" Feeling the opponent''s strength overpowering his own, Jiang Liu thought to himself.


    Of course, being shaken back was one thing; his arms were slightly numb, but he hadn''t been injured. The defense of 180 provided by the Vidyaraja Crown was no joke.


    Indeed, once Jiang Liu had leveled up to level 11, the defense of the Vidyaraja Crown had risen significantly.


    Seeing Jiang Liu being shaken back by his attack, Daoji raised his hand and a green lotus appeared faintly at his fingertips. Then, a streak of Green Lotus Finger Force shot towards Jiang Liu like a whip.


    Daoji timed his attack perfectly, striking while Jiang Liu was still unable to control his stance, making it difficult for him to dodge.


    "It''s my turn to attack," Jiang Liu thought as the Green Lotus Finger Force approached, remembering that the passive effect of the Redwood Ring was double damage. He didn''t waste any time with his first move; as soon as he stabilized his stance, he charged at Daoji, ignoring the approaching Green Lotus Finger Strength.


    Vajra Mantra!


    Of course, just as the Green Lotus Finger Force was about to hit him, Jiang Liu activated the Vajra Mantra skill.


    With his defense plus an 80% damage exemption, the Green Lotus Finger Force had struck Jiang Liu without him feeling much of anything.


    Despite the attack from the Green Lotus Finger Force, Jiang Liu charged straight to Daoji''s front, raising the Demon Subduing Staff high and smashing it down fiercely towards Daoji.


    However, the existence of the Vajra Mantra was already known from the battle at Esquire Zhang''s home, so Daoji was not surprised.


    Watching the Demon Subduing Staff strike down, he threw another punch, again trying to overpower with strength¨Cthe belief that greater strength allows one to do as one pleases!


    The fist and the Demon Subduing Staff collided once more.


    This time, Jiang Liu stood unmoved, but Daoji was sent flying back as if struck by a vehicle, an unprecedented force making him retreat a great distance.


    "What!? How is this possible!?" His own strength was superior, his cultivation level higher, but this time it was he who was sent reeling back, leaving Daoji shocked and in disbelief.


    The terrifying force numbed his arms, almost as if they no longer belonged to him.


    "I''ll try using your move!" Jiang Liu said, looking at the retreating Daoji, raising his hand as he spoke.


    Then, a cluster of fiery red mes took shape, forming a fireball the size of a washbasin and hurtling towards Daoji.


    With the Great Perfection Realm''s Swift Fire Bead, which came with a 100% increase in attack power, the destructive force was naturally immense.


    With a thunderous boom, the Swift Fire Bead exploded upon Daoji like a bomb, causing a burst of mes and sparks.


    Although mes and sparks flew in every direction, Jiang Liu could see that the Swift Fire Bead, upon hitting Daoji, instantaneously reduced his health bar significantly.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Liu once again raised the Demon Subduing Staff, striking down like raindrops while Daoji was injured, forcing him to continuously retreat.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, Daoji''s health bar kept decreasing rapidly, soon leaving only a small fraction.


    Beaten to a bruised and sorry state, the thrashing reminded Daoji of the beating he had endured at Esquire Zhang''s home, filling him with both shock and fear.


    Another hitnded, and Daoji''s hands shone with golden light as he raised them, reaching for the Demon Subduing Staff.


    With a snap, he staggered back two steps, but he firmly grasped the Demon Subduing Staff, clinging to it and seizing a moment of vulnerability to finally catch hold of Jiang Liu''s weapon.


    "The master bestowed the Vidyaraja Crown upon you, and I too have been granted a Buddhist Treasure!" Daoji proimed, bruised and battered, clutching the Demon Subduing Staff and staring at Jiang Liu.


    As he spoke, he lifted his other hand and the Chant Beads in his grasp suddenly swelled with the wind, transforming into a long rope, coiling around Jiang Liu several times, binding him securely.


    Watching Jiang Liu tied up, unable to move, Daoji inwardly sighed with relief as his golden, glowing fist rose once again, with the Arhat Fist bearing down on Jiang Liu.


    "Hmm, it seems Daoji has won. His temperament is good, enduring the pain and waiting to use the Buddhist Treasure at a critical moment," the Saint Monk Longhai, watching Jiang Liu bound and helplessly receiving blows, nodded to himself, approving of Daoji''s spirit.


    Of course, although Jiang Liu''s cultivation level was much lower, he managed to leave Daoji battered and bruised, demonstrating that his strength should not be underestimated either.


    Not only did Saint Monk Longhai think this, but the Buddhist Disciples watching the battle thought the same. With Jiang Liu bound by the Dharma Treasure and unable to move, how could he still be a match for Daoji?


    However, as Daoji''s Arhat Fist came down, Jiang Liu''s gaze intensified slightly and he opened his mouth to speak.


    A dragon chant suddenly broke out!


    (PS: As always, rolling on the ground begging for rmendation tickets, a new book is like a young seedling, needing the irrigation of rmendation tickets...)

 Chapter 37 Tremors at the Great Buddha Temple (Vote for Recommendations)

    Jiang Liu''s body was bound by Daoji''s chant beads, rendering him immobile. To onlookers, it seemed Jiang Liu had naturally lost the fight.


    However, just as Daoji''s Arhat Fist was about tond on Jiang Liu, suddenly, a dragon''s roar resounded, its momentum awe-inspiring.


    The prating roar of the dragon gripped the soul, and nearly visible sound waves emanated from Jiang Liu''s body, spreading rapidly in all directions.


    Under the impact of these sound waves, Daoji''s fist could no longer advance in front of Jiang Liu''s face, and even the powerful wave attack forced Daoji''s body to be directly pushed back.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    As the sound waves attacked, the ground of the Martial Arts Ground within a dozen meters around Jiang Liu cracked open, showcasing the immense force of the sound waves.


    The first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound''s Divine Skills, it wasn''t just capable of repelling the target but also served as an area of effect attack, which appeared truly imposing.


    Not only was everything around the ground affected by the impact, naturally, Daoji''s face turned pale from being pushed back.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, he could see that Daoji''s health bar had decreased a bit more, leaving only a sliver of health.


    At that moment, the chant beads that bound Jiang Liu scattered, automatically returning to Daoji''s hand, indicating that the binding effect of the beads was time-limited.


    Jiang Liu stomped his foot and charged at Daoji like a tiger descending a mountain, striking down with the Demon Subduing Staff, depleting Daoji''s health barpletely, and causing Daoji to faint.


    Notification: Gained Experience Points 460, money 50.


    Notification: Acquired equipment Bronze Bracelet, please check your inventory space for details.


    As Daoji was knocked out, the game system''s notifications duly arrived, and Jiang Liu nodded inwardly in satisfaction.


    He remembered clearly that when he had defeated Esquire Zhang at his home, he had gained just over 300 experience points. Now it had increased to over 400, which suggested that as the strength of his opponents increased, so did the experience points gained.


    Moreover, after reaching level 10, he had unlocked inventory space, and now when defeating monsters for loot, equipment, and money would automatically appear in his inventory space without the need to search corpses.


    "Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound? That was the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound just now, wasn''t it?"


    While Jiang Liu''s thoughts were on the experience points gained, the monks of the Great Buddha Temple, upon witnessing Daoji fainting and then turning to Jiang Liu, went from a dead silence to a sudden outburst of shock andmotion.


    The Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound was indeed a renowned Divine Skill of the Great Buddha Temple, so powerful that only Saint Monk Longhai had learned it under heaven; others,cking the necessary affinity with Buddha, could only sigh in longing.


    It wasn''t surprising that Daoji and Jiang Liu would learn the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    But they had only been at the Great Buddha Temple for a few days. Had they really mastered the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound already?


    "Indeed, it''s the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound..." Saint Monk Longhai, who was also nearby, recognized it as well, staring at Jiang Liu with a mixture of astonishment and joy, disbelief written all over his face.


    During the past few days, as Jiang Liu practiced the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, he himself had been close by, and indeed, Jiang Liu had shown no signs of sess, often even falling asleep. How could he have possibly mastered it like this?


    So even when Jiang Liu imed he had learned it, Longhai had been skeptical.


    But unexpectedly, without any warning, Jiang Liu had employed the Divine Skills of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    As the only person who had learned the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, Saint Monk Longhai could see more clearly. Judging from the use of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound by Jiang Liu just now, it didn''t seem at all like that of a beginner who had studied only a few days. The execution seemed very skillful, and Longhai had also noted the strength of the attack.


    For him to unleash such power at the beginning of the Meridian Unblocking Realm, it would normally require at least a year and a half of arduous cultivation.


    Longhai checked on Daoji''s condition and found that he had only fainted and wasn''t seriously hurt, after which he had someone take Daoji back to rest. Meanwhile, he looked at Jiang Liu in amazement and asked, "Xuanzang, when did you learn the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound?"


    "I learned it in the past few days," Jiang Liu responded to Saint Monk Longhai''s inquiry.


    "The past few days? He has been learning the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound for only about six or seven days, could his talent truly be so remarkable? Or is it because of the blessings from the twelve scent scars?" Jiang Liu''s response left Saint Monk Longhai even more astonished.


    ...


    After the match, all the monks of the Great Buddha Temple, both young and old, were awed by the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound disyed by Jiang Liu.


    To learn the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound in just a few days, such talent left everyone dumbfounded, a genius unparalleled.


    Even some of the older monks confided that when Saint Monk Longhai first came to Great Buddha Temple, it took him a whole month to learn the first level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    Two Chinese Hourster.


    Saint Monk Longhai sat in the great hall, with several high monks of the Great Buddha Temple sitting below him, obviously discussing something important.


    "Amitabha, Abbot Brother, are you suggesting that Xuanzang should enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall to cultivate?" asked a monk with seven scent scars on his head, his face filled with shock, as he questioned Saint Monk Longhai.


    Simrly, the other high monks beside him showed varying degrees of surprise on their faces.


    "Indeed, Xuanzang''s talents are so extraordinary, and actualbat is the best form of cultivation. Moreover, these past days, he has been sparring with the temple''s disciples every afternoon, often knocking them unconscious. He clearly understands this. So, why not let him enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall early to temper himself?" Saint Monk Longhai nodded slightly.


    "However, Abbot Brother, normally, disciples of the Great Buddha Temple must reach the Body Tempering Realm in their cultivation level before entering the Demon-Suppressing Hall to temper themselves. As I see it, Xuanzang''s cultivation level has just barely reached the Meridian Unblocking Scripture, right? Why not wait a bit longer?


    If something were to happen to him, how would we exin it to the Buddha in Western Heaven?" said the other high monks, who were rtively less agreeable.


    After all, the identity of someone with twelve scent scars put heavy pressure on the high monks. No one could bear the responsibility if anything went wrong.


    "Alright, let''s leave this matter to his own will. If he goes, with the protection of the Vidyaraja Crown, he should not face too much risk..." Seeing that his younger brothers were hesitant to take responsibility, Saint Monk Longhai no longer insisted and conceded.


    The other high monks exchanged nces and then nodded in session.


    Indeed, this matter should be left up to Xuanzang''s own desire.


    "Ah, if only I hadn''t shown off..." On the other side, staying in his Zen Room, Jiang Liu sighed to himself at this moment.


    In these past days, he had been training with Longhai in the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound every morning, and in the afternoon, Jiang Liu would spar with the monks of the temple to gain experience. Thanks to his identity as the one with the twelve scent scars, the disciples were quite willing to spar with him, and life was rather pleasant.


    However, after he publicly used the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, although he had sessfully shown off, it had be difficult to find other disciples willing to spar with him as many started making excuses to refuse.


    Despite his low cultivation level, the reputation of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound was too great.


    "What should I do? Many disciples of the Great Buddha Temple are now afraid to engage with me. Where should I go to ''fight monsters and level up''?" Thinking back to the times he had been politely refused when asking other disciples to spar, Jiang Liu felt a sense of urgency.


    Will I have to rely solely on the cultivation state of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to gain experience points from now on?


    Yet, just at that moment, there was a knock at the door of the Zen Room, followed by Longhai''s voice outside.


    "Xuanzang, may Ie in?"


    (PS: As always, asking for votes, hurry up and cast your votes, keeping them to yourself won''t give birth to kids anyway¡­)

 Chapter 38 News of Sun Wukong (Seeking Recommendations)

    "Saint Monk Longhai is looking for me, is there something important?" Jiang Liu asked after letting Longhai in.


    Could it be that he came because he had learned of Jiang Liu mastering the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound?


    "There''s nothing particrly important, I just wanted to chat with you for a bit," Longhai said as he sat down on the chair next to Jiang Liu without much courtesy, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a gentle sip.


    "Yeah right, I believe you," Jiang Liu thought to himself, rolling his eyes internally at Longhai''s words.


    Of course, no matter what he thought inside, Jiang Liu''s exterior did not show any sign of it.


    Jiang Liu also sat down in front of Longhai, poured himself a cup of tea, and was in even less of a hurry to speak. The room fell silent for a moment.


    After waiting a little while, seeing that Jiang Liu had no intention of starting a conversation, Longhai had to take the initiative and said, "Xuanzang, you have grasped the firstyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound so quickly. I havee to understand your talents, but cultivation cannot be aplished in istion. It requires trial by fire and blood to fully master it.


    You''ve been seeking out your fellow disciples in the afternoons to exchange martial arts, is that what you''re thinking?"


    Instead of answering Longhai''s question, Jiang Liu just gazed steadily at him, indicating for him to continue speaking.


    Seeing that Jiang Liu had no reaction, Longhai was not annoyed and continued, "Most temples are located deep in the mountains, in cave heavens and blessednds, yet our Great Buddha Temple is built right within Chang''an City, enduring the city''s mor. Do you know why?"


    "I do not know!" The topic had indeed piqued Jiang Liu''s interest.


    Indeed, it was quite strange that within Chang''an City the Great Buddha Temple upied such arge area. After all, since ancient times, there has always beenpetition between royal authority and religious authority.


    "That is because Chang''an City is not a ce of solely good. Beneath it lies a Demon Cave, filled with demons. Our Great Buddha Temple is built right above this Demon Cave, securing the safety of Chang''an City," Saint Monk Longhai stated straightforwardly without any intention of keeping it a mystery.


    "So that''s how it is¡­" Jiang Liu nodded in realization and then looked at Longhai with further questions, "I wonder why the Holy Monk would tell me this?"


    "There''s a saying, ''It is better to dredge than to block.'' Our Great Buddha Temple is suppressing the Demon Cave but has not sealed it entirely. Otherwise, the demons inside might grow strong enough to overthrow the temple one day, causing an even greater disaster. Therefore, there''s a small gap left in the seal, through which we constructed the Demon-Suppressing Hall.


    The demons that escape enter this hall, and the temple often arranges for disciples to train there," Longhai said.


    Upon having said this, Longhai paused briefly and then added, "First, this is to eliminate the demons from the Demon Cave safely before their numbers be too overwhelming. Second, it also serves the purpose of training the temple''s disciples."


    "Isn''t this just like a level-grinding dungeon!?" Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up upon hearing about the existence of the Demon-Suppressing Hall.


    This was indeed timely information. Having shown his prowess with the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, Jiang Liu had been worrying because few disciples were willing to ept his challenges anymore. But now, he learned of the Demon-Suppressing Hall within the Great Buddha Temple.


    To him, wasn''t the Demon-Suppressing Hall the perfect ce for grinding levels?


    "So, the Holy Monk means to suggest that I should go there to train?" Jiang Liu asked excitedly, his eyes wide as he gazed at Saint Monk Longhai.


    Seeing the changes in Jiang Liu''s expression, Longhai could understand his thoughts. This was truly a martial arts fanatic.


    However, Longhai still had to say what needed to be said, "I have simply informed you of the Demon-Suppressing Hall. Whether you choose to go or not is up to you."


    "Willing? I am naturally willing to go," feeling as if he''d been given a pillow just as he''d gotten sleepy, how could Jiang Liu refuse?


    Upon hearing Jiang Liu''s response, Saint Monk Longhai nodded slightly, indicating that he understood and was not at all surprised.


    Previously, knowing that Jiang Liu had a great passion for martial arts, it was Longhai that had brought out the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to steady his thoughts of returning to secr life. These past days, he had even been pulling the monastery''s disciples together to spar daily. Therefore, Longhai was not surprised by his agreement to proceed.


    "Very well, Daoji''s cultivation level is also about to break through to the Body Tempering Realm. In another two days, the two of you can enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall together for training," Longhai spoke, solidifying the arrangement.


    Although Longhai had said that he was just there for a casual chat with Jiang Liu, once the matter at hand had been discussed, Longhai did not intend to stay any longer, and he got up to leave.


    "Ah, wait a moment..." However, as Longhai stood up, Jiang Liu spoke up to stop him.


    Longhai turned back, looking at Jiang Liu with an inquiring gaze.


    "I''ve been having a recurring dreamtely, a very vivid one. Can the Holy Monk help me understand it?" Jiang Liu''s face carried a troubled expression, as though he was tormented by the dream.


    In modern society, it would not be a significant issue to simply have a dream, but in this mythical world, being one of the twelve incense scarred Buddhist Disciples and having the same dream for several days in a row was a serious matter. Saint Monk Longhai''s expression grew solemn, and he sat back down: "What did you dream about?"


    "It''s quite strange. I dreamt of a monkey, a monkey that could ascend to the heavens and explore the earth. I dreamt of a monkey being suppressed under a great mountain, calling out daily, asking me to rescue it. Do you have any idea what that means?" Jiang Liu asked earnestly as he stared at Longhai.


    The supposed dreams and cries for help were naturally fabricated; Jiang Liu was just using this excuse to inquire about the existence of Sun Wukong.


    Being in thends of Great Tang in this mythical world, his Dharma name being Xuanzang, and having twelve incense scars...


    All of these details seemed to imply that he was indeed in the world of Journey to the West and that he was Tang Monk. However, Jiang Liu still wanted to investigate thoroughly.


    "A monkey that can ascend to the heavens and plunge into the earth? Suppressed under a great mountain?"


    A contemtive look crossed Longhai''s brow and after a moment of thought, he said, "Speaking of which, there is a legend that during Wang Mang''s usurpation of the Han Dynasty, a Divine Mountain known as Five Elements Mountain descended from the sky. Under this mountain was a Divine Monkey impervious to the cold and hunger.


    Later, the Emperor of Great Tang established his rule in the west and renamed it Mount of the Two Realms. The monkey you speak of being suppressed, could it be rted to the Divine Monkey under that mountain?"


    There it was, confirmation!


    Saint Monk Longhai''s answer made it clear to Jiang Liu that he was correct. With Five Elements Mountain appearing and the Divine Monkey suppressed beneath it, wasn''t that Sun Wukong?


    "Indeed, is the world I''ve traveled to truly the one of Journey to the West? And my identity, is that of the scripture-seeking Tang Monk?" Having confirmed his presence in the world of Journey to the West and his identity as Tang Monk, Jiang Liu didn''t feel joy but a sense of sinking.


    He had no desire to be a monk; he only wanted to marry Gaoyang and be an ordinary couple. He didn''t want to be entangled in the grand affair of journeying to the Western Heaven.


    Moreover, modern interpretations of Journey to the West had long since suggested that the entire quest was a colossal setup.


    The chessmasters were naturally the great Immortals and Buddhas, and the consequences of getting involved were unpredictable.


    (PS: Please vote for rmendations. If you''re enjoying the story, don''t forget to cast your rmendation votes...)

 Chapter 39 Entering the Imperial Palace, Seeing Gaoyang Again (Request for Recommendation Tickets)

    Jiang Liu, having confirmed that he indeed was in the world of "Journey to the West" and that he was none other than Tang Monk, did not feel joy in his heart.


    As the core figure in the Journey to the West for Scriptures, his existence naturally drew the attention of all the heavenly deities and buddhas. If the spread of Buddhistw to the east were a grand strategic gameid out by the Buddhist Realm, then he himself was the most important piece on the board.


    Yes, Jiang Liu understood that in the matter of the Scripture Seeking in the West, he was just a piece on the board, and the most important one at that.


    With this, his desire to marry Princess Gaoyang and have children seemed more difficult than ascending to the heavens.


    After all, the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of Western Heaven would surely not allow him to abandon the pursuit of Scripture Seeking to marry and have children, right?


    "Xuanzang, what''s wrong? Did you find out something? You look rather upset," asked Longhai, who was beside him, looking curiously at Jiang Liu''splexion.


    "Oh, it''s nothing. It seems this dream must be my own fate. If I ever get the chance, I really should visit the Five Elements Mountain," said Holy Monk Longhai, interrupting Jiang Liu''s thoughts. Afterposing himself a bit, Jiang Liu shook his head and responded.


    Hearing Jiang Liu say that this was his own fate, Holy Monk Longhai decided not to meddle in the matter of the Monkey under the mountain.


    However, just as he was about to leave, he heard Jiang Liu make a difficult request of him.


    "Holy Monk, I have a favor to ask. I wish to visit the Imperial Pce," Jiang Liu said earnestly, gazing at Holy Monk Longhai as he made his request.


    "This..." Faced with such a request, Holy Monk Longhai appeared troubled.


    Originally, Longhai was very pleased when Jiang Liu made a request, as the more he helped him, the more Jiang Liu would owe him in return.


    But Jiang Liu wanting to go to the Imperial Pce, what could his intentions be? Longhai naturally understood.


    "Holy Monk, it has been many days since the Incense Offering Ceremony, and Princess Gaoyang saw me with her own eyes insert twelve incense scars. These days, she must be living in agonizing uncertainty. I''m not in a hurry to renounce my religious life, can you not allow me just one meeting with her?" asked Jiang Liu, his gaze firm, clearly showing his determination to go to the Imperial Pce.


    Perhaps it was because Jiang Liu''s unyielding attitude that Longhai was wary of provoking a strong adversarial reaction, or perhaps it was Jiang Liu''s mention of not being in a hurry to renounce his religious life that reassured Longhai somewhat.


    After pondering for a moment, Longhai said, "Only this once, never again."


    "Thank you, Holy Monk!" Hearing Longhai agree, Jiang Liu was overjoyed and sincerely thanked Holy Monk Longhai.


    ...


    Following beside Longhai, Jiang Liu entered the Imperial Pce, curiously looking around; this was his first time entering the Imperial Pce.


    Seeing the interior, the vermilion high walls, the guardsing and going, and the eunuch bowing and leading the way in front of them.


    With Holy Monk Longhai''s arrival at the Imperial Pce, the people inside naturally treated him with utmost respect. Soon, a young eunuch quickly ran out to inform the Emperor.


    By the time Jiang Liu and Longhai reached the entrance of the great hall, they could see Emperor of Tang Li Shimin had alreadye out to meet them personally.


    After exchanging greetings, Li Shimin''s gaze fell on Jiang Liu, and then he greeted Jiang Liu, "Master Xuanzang, wee."


    Jiang Liu was startled when Li Shimin greeted him, but soon remembered the incident of lighting twelve incense scars, which both Princess Gaoyang and Li Shimin had witnessed. Thus, it made sense that Li Shimin remembered him.


    Jiang Liu pressed his palms together, bowed, and returned the greeting, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"


    "Please have a seat," Li Shimin said as he personally weed Jiang Liu and Longhai into the grand hall and motioned them to sit down. Without any further ado, he said, "Holy Monk, apanied by Master Xuanzang, must have important matters to discuss, as one does not visit the Hall of Supreme Harmony without reason."


    "Indeed, I havee today firstly to discuss with Your Majesty the friction between the Great River King of Flood Dragon and the Blood Tiger King, as their increasing conflicts have greatly stirred up the evil spirits within a hundred miles, causing significant distress to the surrounding residents.


    Secondly, by coincidence, I have crafted several jade pendants for protection and ornamentation, which I would like to offer to your Princes and Princesses," the words flowed from Longhai.


    As he spoke, Saint Monk Longhai produced several jade pendants from his robes.


    "Thank you, Holy Monk," Li Shimin expressed his gratitude upon seeing that Longhai had brought gifts and then gave a few instructions to a nearby eunuch.


    Soon after the eunuch left, he returned with several young men and women, among whom was Princess Gaoyang.


    Having not seen her for many days, Jiang Liu''s heart leapt with joy upon seeing Princess Gaoyang again. He could see she looked thinner than before, her expression solemn, no longer as carefree and merry as she once was.


    Jiang Liu''s gaze fell on Princess Gaoyang and naturally, as she stepped into the grand hall, she also noticed him.


    Their eyes met, and it seemed as if everything else around them ceased to exist.


    "Princess Gaoyang, won''t youe over? This is the jade pendant given by Saint Monk Longhai for your protection," Li Shimin called out to her, breaking the gaze between her and Jiang Liu.


    Coming back to herself, Princess Gaoyang no longer gazed at Jiang Liu, silently walked over to Li Shimin''s side, took the jade pendant, and curtsied, "Thank you, Father, thank you, Holy Monk."


    "Alright, you all may go now..." Li Shimin said with a fond look in his eyes for Princess Gaoyang, and after distributing the jade pendants, he waved his hand, dismissing the Princes and Princesses.


    "Xuanzang, since I need to discuss some matters with His Majesty, if you find yourself at leisure, feel free to explore the Imperial Pce," Longhai turned slightly and suggested to Jiang Liu after the Princes and Princesses had left.


    "Then I shall not disturb Your Majesty and the Holy Monk any further," Jiang Liu stood up to leave following Saint Monk Longhai''s words and then turned to exit the grand hall.


    Jiang Liu was well aware that Saint Monk Longhai''s pretext of giving gifts was actually to let Princess Gaoyang know he was in the pce and then conveniently leaving him alone to create an opportunity for them to be alone.


    Walking naturally, Jiang Liu left the grand hall and, just as he stepped outside, he happened to see the distant figure of Princess Gaoyang turning a corner and disappearing.


    Quickening his pace, Jiang Liu jogged towards the direction where Princess Gaoyang had gone.


    After a short chase, when he saw Princess Gaoyang disappear near a rocky hill, Jiang Liu ran up and searched around but saw no one.


    "Hey, silly, I''m here," just as Jiang Liu was at a loss, a lightugh sounded from nearby.


    Turning towards the sound, Jiang Liu saw a cave beside the hill with Princess Gaoyang poking her head out, waving at him.


    With a joyful smile, Jiang Liu followed Princess Gaoyang''s direction, squeezed through a gap in the rocks, and followed her into the cave...


    (PS: A new day, asking for rmendations and support...)

 Chapter 40 Love for Beauty Over Power (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

    Inside the artificial hill, there was a small space, but Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang did not find it cramped as they hid there.


    The tiny private space allowed them to be very close, almost as if they could clearly hear each other''s breathing.


    "Princess Gaoyang, I''m sorry, I..."


    The light was dim, and the young girl in front of him looked weary and slightly thinner. Jiang Liu''s longing over the past days had turned into a feeling of guilt, and he couldn''t help but gently grab Princess Gaoyang''s tender hand, whispering softly.


    However, Jiang Liu had not finished speaking when Princess Gaoyang covered his lips with her other hand.


    Princes Gaoyang''s eyes shimmered as she slightly lifted her head, looking intently at Jiang Liu, "You don''t need to apologize. Getting the Scar of Precepts wasn''t your choice, and no one expected you to receive twelve of them."


    "Had I known, I would have not participated in the Incense Offering Ceremony. Perhaps then, we both..." Thinking about the twelve Scars of Precepts on his head, Jiang Liu showed a regretful expression.


    He had participated only to formally renounce secr life and give an exnation to Jinshan Temple, but who could have imagined this oue?


    If he hadn''t attended, perhaps he and Princess Gaoyang would be together by now?


    But with this thought, Jiang Liu gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "No, even if I hadn''t participated, we couldn''t be together now. Because I am just a mere man, unworthy of you."


    "Now, it is I who am unworthy of you...", Princess Gaoyang softly gripped Jiang Liu''s hand in return, whispering back.


    The twelve Scars of Precepts indicated a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva from Spirit Mountain. If all went as expected, Jiang Liu was to be the spiritual leader of all monks in the Great Tang.


    Although Princess Gaoyang''s status was noble, it paled inparison to Jiang Liu''s.


    Regrettably, despite Jiang Liu''s distinguished status, he was a monk, unable to marry or have children. Otherwise, with his status now, he would be more than worthy of a princess.


    Bowing her head, Princess Gaoyang kept silent for a moment before whispering, "Jiang Liu, if there''s no chance for us to be together in the future, maybe we should stop here. You will undoubtedly be a renowned Holy Monk, more esteemed even than Saint Monk Longhai. I don''t want to be a burden to you, or hinder your future..."


    "Don''t say that. I am a man who chooses love over power," Jiang Liu immediately interrupted Princess Gaoyang, his expression resolute.


    Breaking up had never crossed Jiang Liu''s mind.


    Whether when he first learned of Gaoyang''s royal status and felt unworthy of her; or when he received the twelve Scars of Precepts, realizing the difficulty of being together; or now, having realized his identity as the Tang Monk, Jiang Liu had never thought about parting ways with Princess Gaoyang.


    Jiang Liu merely considered how difficult it was to be together and thought of ways to ovee these difficulties.


    "I, I thought your entry into the pce was to..." Upon hearing Jiang Liu''s definitive words, Gaoyang understood his feelings, and felt warmth in her heart as she whispered softly.


    Hush!


    But before Gaoyang could finish, Jiang Liu immediately gestured for her to be quiet.


    Indeed, shortly after, footsteps approached; two pce maids talking as they passed by the artificial hill.


    The two hid inside the hill, holding their breath, daring not to make any sound.


    After a moment, once the pce maids passed by, they both exhaled deeply, smiled at each other, their hearts pounding loudly. Then, they gently embraced.


    "What did you think I came to the pce for? Did you think I was here to cut off our bond? Did you think I wanted to establish boundaries with you to be a revered leader of the Buddhist sect, to be a saint admired by thousands? No, I came because I was worried about you. Look at you, how thin you''ve be."


    "Indeed, as you said, given my identity, it is extremely difficult for us to be together, but no matter how difficult it is, I won''t let go. Rest assured, I will strive to be stronger, strong enough that no one can stop us from being together...,"


    ...


    Jiang Liu and Saint Monk Longhai left the Imperial Pce together, and as they reached the outside, Jiang Liu turned back for onest look.


    Today''s visit to the pce, where he whispered sweet nothings with Princess Gaoyang in the rockery, helped Jiang Liu resolve some of his inner conflicts.


    Due to the twelve Scar of Precepts, Jiang Liu had been worried about Princess Gaoyang''s condition these past days. Indeed, seeing her again, she had be more reticent and thinner. Today, having said all that needed to be said, he could see that her spirits had lifted quite a bit.


    As Tang Monk, it was clear to him that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of Western Heaven would never allow him to marry and forsake the great undertaking of the Journey to the West.


    Therefore, Jiang Liu did not show any strong desire to renounce his monastic life.


    Otherwise, who knows whether the Buddha and Bodhisattvas might harm Princess Gaoyang?


    However, to be with Princess Gaoyang, he must grow quickly enough to take control of his own destiny and reach a point where he is no longer at the mercy of the Heavenly Deity.


    Jiang Liu understood that all this was very, very difficult.


    However, possessing a gaming system that allowed him to level up by defeating monsters, he had reached level 11 in just over half a month, a feat that would take others many years of hard cultivation.


    At least, there was still hope, wasn''t there?


    From behind the battlements on top of the pce walls, Princess Gaoyang secretly watched the departing figures of Jiang Liu and Saint Monk Longhai. Thinking of the words Jiang Liu had said today, a slight smile appeared on her lips.


    "In love''s longsting bond, time does not matter, a truly good line of poetry. Although we cannot be together day and night now, at least he has not given up hope. He is willing to strive for our future...," Princess Gaoyang murmured softly,forted by the poem Jiang Liu had recited to her in the rockery, feeling a sweet sensation in her heart.


    Saint Monk Longhai walked alongside Jiang Liu, slightly turning his head to nce at him.


    Although Jiang Liu had been silent throughout, Longhai could feel that Jiang Liu was much more rxed than when they had arrived, suggesting that he and Princess Gaoyang had shared some very important words, but certainly not a farewell.


    Longhai did not inquire about the specifics of their conversation.


    "By the way, Holy Monk, there is still some time, may I visit Jinshan Temple tomorrow? It''s been several days since I came to the Great Buddha Temple, and I haven''t yet gone back to check on it," Jiang Liu asked as he walked alongside Longhai.


    Although he had only been in this world for a short time, Jiang Liu had quite liked the days he initially spent at Jinshan Temple, where Senior Abbot Faming and the others had taken very good care of him¡ªit felt like home in this world.


    "Of course, I''ll arrange for Master Huihai to apany you tomorrow," Longhai nodded without any intention of refusal.


    He knew that Jiang Liu had lived in Jinshan Temple from a young age, so his desire to go back and see it was only natural.


    Perhaps it was to ensure his safety, since a monk with twelve Scar of Precepts could be targeted by someone, or even by demons.


    Or perhaps it was the fear of him running away.


    But Jiang Liu did not refuse the arrangement for Master Huihai to apany him.


    (PS: I seek your rmendations, I need all the votes you can give to support...)

 Chapter 41 Returning Home in Glory (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

    Dawn was breaking, and the crowing of mighty roosters could be heard in the distance. At the entrance of Chang''an City gates, several city guards took down the enormous bolts from the gates.


    Apanied by a heavy "creak," the massive gates were slowly pulled open, as many citizens who had been waiting at the entrance eagerly entered and exited upon seeing the gates unlocked.


    Ding ding dong dong!


    Just then, suddenly, a series of clear bell and Buddhist drum sounds arose, and a faint chanting of Buddhist mantras could be heard from afar, drawing closer.


    The guards and citizens at the gate looked toward the source of the sound.


    On the streets of Chang''an in the early morning, a procession of monks was making their way, their ranks impressively arrayed, numbering in the dozens. These monks each carried a magic artifact in their hands, softly chanting Zen Buddhist Scriptures, making all who heard them feel a sense of tranquil calm.


    In the middle of this procession, there was a luxurious pnquin carried by sixteen men, which appeared like a small house as it approached. As this entourage passed, citizens along the roadside spontaneously knelt down and worshiped.


    "Is that? The Buddhist Pnquin of Saint Monk Longhai?" Watching the procession approaching, several guards at the city gates tensed up, hurriedly asking the nearby citizens to step back, clearing the way, and then they all kneeled along the sides of the road, reverently weing the pnquin of Saint Monk Longhai.


    The pnquin was carried by sixteen bald, robust monks. Seeing their bronze skin and the steadiness of their stride, one could tell their cultivation levels were not low.


    As the pnquin passed, the kneeling guards stealthily raised their heads for a nce.


    Sitting within the pnquin was a young monk, draped in a bright red kasaya, his head crowned with a luxurious monk crown, exuding an air of supreme nobility.


    "Eh? That''s not Saint Monk Longhai? Who is that young monk?" The guard wondered to himself as he watched the pnquin slowly move away.


    What young man could possibly be riding in Saint Monk Longhai''s pnquin? Even Daoji, who was a fellow disciple with the nine incense scars, wouldn''t be allowed, right?


    "Wait, if even Daoji, who also has nine incense scars, is not allowed, then, the one sitting on the pnquin must be the legendary Master Xuanzang with the twelve incense scars?"


    Realizing the identity of the young monk in the pnquin, the guard was inwardly shocked, never expecting that, by a stroke of fate, he would actually be able to see the true face of the legendary Master Xuanzang.


    Sitting atop the Buddhist Pnquin of Saint Monk Longhai, and seeing everyone kneeling to wee and honor him, apanied by the ranks of monks around him¡ªeven the monks carrying the pnquin had several incense scars on their heads¡ªJiang Liu couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of reflection.


    This damned disy of pomp, this dreadful hierarchy, it fills one with an immense sense of vanity.


    Riding atop the grand pnquin, being carried by others, with music ying all around, he was en route to Jinshan Temple¡ªa far cry from his arrival in his threadbare monk''s robe.


    The entourage of Saint Monk Longhai was made up of monks with cultivation, the journey of barely twenty li was not at all far.


    By the time the sun was well up, looking at the sun in the sky, he guessed it should be around ten in the morning, and the entourage had already arrived at the foot of Jinshan Temple.


    As the procession ascended the mountain, pilgrims along the mountain path began to kneel, loudly calling out the name of Master Xuanzang.


    Sitting in the Buddhist Pnquin, looking at the familiar mountain path, what had been a rarely trodden trail had be livelier than before, bustling with many pilgrims on the road.


    What used to be a mountain path cluttered with weeds now appeared clearer, possibly because more people had been traveling it these days, so much so that even the weeds had vanished.


    Inside Jinshan Temple, Senior Abbot Faming and others were receiving temple visitors. Some of the visitors, after being received, wandered freely within the temple grounds. The dpidated Zen Room where Jiang Liu once lived now drew queues of visitors wanting a peek.


    Clearly, it was the effect of fame; these visitors all wanted to see what the life of Master Xuanzang, who bore the twelve incense scars, was like before the Incense Offering Ceremony.


    "Hmm? Xuanming, go out and see what''s causing such amotion," as Jiang Liu''s procession approached the mountain with music and fanfare, even drawing the cheers of many people, Senior Abbot Faming, who was in the Buddhist hall receiving visitors, was slightly startled and immediately said to Xuanming beside him.


    "Alright, Master," Xuanming nodded and strode outside.


    It wasn''t long before Xuanming hurried back, flustered.


    "Master, it''s Liu''er, no, I mean Master Xuanzang has arrived..." Xuanming''s somewhat plump face was a mix of shock and joy as he spoke urgently.


    Hearing that it was Master Xuanzang''s arrival, the visitors in the Buddhist hall excitedly headed outside, and even Faming himself stood up with joy.


    Putting aside his identity as the one with the twelve incense scars, Jiang Liu was someone they had watched grow up. He had achieved fame overnight, known throughout thend, but left behind at the Great Buddha Temple¡ªeveryone deeply missed him.


    Seated upon the Buddhist pnquin, Jiang Liu soon arrived in front of Jinshan Temple. Looking at the temple, which had undergone some changes with many parts newly repaired and rejuvenated, even the shabby temple signboard had been reced with a brand new one, Jiang Liu felt a surge of delight.


    "We pay our respects to Master Xuanzang!" With the Buddhist pnquining to a halt in front of Jinshan Temple''s gate, many visitors who had heard the news kneeled down en masse in front of Jiang Liu, shouting aloud in greeting.


    "Please, rise," Jiang Liu said to the kneeling visitors.


    Havinge through time from the modern society, where there wasn''t much of a concept of hierarchy and definitely not one for kneeling as a form of greeting, Jiang Liu, despite reveling in the vanity while riding pompously on the Buddhist pnquin, was not ustomed to others kneeling before him.


    "I am the old monk Faming, paying respects to Master Xuanzang..." Following the visitors, Senior Abbot Faming¡ªassisted by Xuanming and several other fellow monks¡ªmade his way to the temple gate as well and knelt down.


    "Master, what are you doing?" Jiang Liu was startled to see Faming preparing to kneel before him and hurriedly hopped down from the pnquin to support the elderly abbot.


    "Master Xuanzang, I, I am not worthy to be your master, I¡­" Looking at Jiang Liu, Faming was moved, yet he also felt somewhat frightened.


    "What Xuanzang? Are you saying a few scars on my head have turned me into another person? Master, please just call me Liu''er, like before. I would prefer it," he said, supporting Faming as they walked into the temple.


    The apanying brother Xuanming and others quickly gestured for the members of the Great Buddha Temple''s procession toe in and rest.


    ...


    At the base of Jinshan Temple mountain, a young Taoist strolled up at a steady pace.


    This Taoist looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a blue Taoist robe with a treasure sword strapped to his back, his hair tied up into a topknot. As a light breeze blew, his robe fluttered elegantly, exuding an extraordinary presence.


    "This Buddhist disciple is known throughout the world. It is inevitable that Buddhism will flourish greatly in the future, while the Taoist Sect declines. Today, I shall make him lose face before all under heaven¡­" the young Taoist murmured under his breath, his expression resolute as he proceeded with vigorous strides up the mountain.

 Chapter 42 The Unwelcome Guest (Vote for Recommendation)

    "What to do, what should we do..." Inside the hall of Buddha, Senior Abbot Faming fretted like ants on a hot pan, his expressionplex.


    There was joy, urgency, and also fear...


    It wasn''t just Senior Abbot Faming who felt this way; Xuankong, Xuanwu, and Xuanming beside him also wore simr expressions.


    Even the monks who hade from the Great Buddha Temple were all exchanging looks of astonishment.


    The reason was, after returning to Jinshan Temple, it was perfectly normal for Master Xuanzang to chat with these brothers¡ªaftering back, one must have some conversation, right?


    However, as noon approached, he disregarded everyone''s objections and went off to cook in the kitchen. This left everyone dumbfounded and resulted in this scene where Senior Abbot Faming and the others were filled with trepidation and urgency.


    Who is Master Xuanzang? Known far and wide, the first monk in history to receive the Incense Scar Initiation twelve times, a monk with profound Buddhist connection, even rumored to be the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva.


    Before, it might have been alright not knowing his status, but now, with such a status, he personally cooking for them? This caused Faming to be both fearful and anxious.


    "Amitabha, since Master Xuanzang has such a pure heart, Abbot Faming, you should just graciously ept it..." said Master Huihai with a whisper of Buddha''s name and a smile on his face.


    Though famous at a young age, and well-known everywhere, he remained true to his original heart, not getting lost in the lure of fame and fortune, which made Master Huihai nod in approval internally.


    Indeed, worthy of someone who had received the twelve Scars of Precepts. How many people could do the same?


    How many people in the world loudly dere that they see wealth as mere dirt and fame as fleeting as smoke, yet of those who proim so vehemently, how many actually live up to it?


    Everyone they meet speaks of resigning their official post, but in the tranquil woods, we never see even one who does.


    It''s like those in officialdom allment the difficulties of office when meeting others, expressing a wish to resign, but who has truly gone through with it?


    Previously at Jinshan Temple, cooking was quite fast. After all, there were only a few people in the monastery. But today, Jiang Liu was busy in the kitchen for a long time.


    After all, since he was cooking, it wouldn''t be polite to only cook for his fellow brothers and Master at Jinshan Temple, right?


    The people from the Great Buddha Temple had apanied him, and it would only be reasonable and proper to provide some food for them. Although there wasn''t enough for a full meal, they could at least have a little, thereby fulfilling the social niceties.


    There were also the pilgrims, who hade to offer incense at Jinshan Temple, and they came for his sake. Since he had cooked, he should also prepare a bit for them.


    In doing so, he was also fostering a good reputation for Jinshan Temple.


    After spending more than an hour, he cooked arge pot of rice and almostpletely harvested the vegetables in the garden, feeding several dozen people.


    As a high monk of the Great Buddha Temple, Master Huihai naturally sat at the same table with the people from Jinshan Temple.


    A Martial Monk, who was a pnquin bearer, quietly walked aside and took out two tbreads from his robe.


    Even though he was a monk of the Great Buddha Temple, he was after all just a bearer. In those ancient times, bearers, servants, and maidservants had a lower status, and today, since Master Xuanzang himself was cooking, there naturally wasn''t a portion for them.


    "Hey, go to the kitchen and carry out the food, I''ve made some for you all as well," he said.


    However, just as the pnquin-bearing monk was looking down nibbling on his tbreads, a voice rang out. The monk lifted his head to see Master Xuanzang speaking to him and was stunned; the tbreads in his hand fell to the ground.


    Soon, several buckets of rice and dishes were carried out, along with arge bucket of green vegetable tofu soup. These martial monks and the ceremonial guard each had half a bowl of rice, a few slices of green vegetables, and finally a bowl of soup. Although they were not full, they felt an immense sense of satisfaction in their hearts.


    Looking into Jiang Liu''s eyes, it wasn''t just respect they felt, but also gratitude.


    Half a bowl of food and a bowl of soup may not be anything precious, but the fact that Master Xuanzang himself cooked and didn''t forget about them made them feel valued and grateful.


    "Thank you, Master Xuanzang!" The pilgrims nearby also received a share and shouted out their thanks in a chorus.


    Food prepared by Master Xuanzang, who bore the twelve Scars of Precepts, was a privilege that not just anyone could enjoy. Even a single grain of rice from him was incredibly precious.


    "Amitabha, the Buddha said all beings are equal. We understand the teachings, but how many truly live by them¡­" Master Huihai whispered a Buddhist invocation upon witnessing the scene.


    Indeed, Xuanzang had not bound the Scar of Precepts for long, nor had he read many Buddhist scriptures, but the principle of equality among all beings was something he understood inherently.


    If anyone imed he was not the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, Master Huihai would be the first to disbelieve.


    Master Huihai and the people from Jinshan Temple sat at the banquet eating, while the ceremonial monks and pilgrims received some food too and were quite content. The meal was consumed with great enthusiasm.


    Especially the pilgrims, who wished they could lick their bowlspletely clean.


    "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, it sure is lively here¡­" Just then, a clear and sonorous voice rang out, and a young Taoist dressed in a Taoist robe approached.


    "Eh? You are a disciple of the Heavenly Master Yuan, Li Chunfeng?" Master Huihai slightly raised his eyebrows, obviously recognizing the young Taoist who approached.


    "Li Chunfeng?"


    Jiang Liu was conversing with Senior Abbot Faming when he heard the name Li Chunfeng. He set down his bowl and scrutinized the young Taoist.


    Although his knowledge of history was not strong, Jiang Liu had still heard of the master-disciple duo of Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng in the Tang Dynasty.


    Setting aside that this was the mythological world of Journey to the West, even in the real world, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were mythologized much like Liu Bowen and Zhuge Liang, esteemed as almost immortal-like figures in history.


    "Greetings, a chance meeting is a predestined affinity. Please, take a seat and join us for the meal," Jiang Liu courteously invited Li Chunfeng to sit, upon unexpectedly meeting such a famous historical figure.


    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony," replied Li Chunfeng, epting Jiang Liu''s invitation without hesitation and seating himself.


    "This Jinshan Temple is quite remote, and you are not of the Buddhist Sect, so what brings you here all of a sudden?" A portion of food was served up in front of Li Chunfeng, and Jiang Liu asked in a casual manner.


    Picking up the chopsticks before him, Li Chunfeng answered, "My visit is on ount of you."


    "For me?" Jiang Liu looked at Li Chunfeng in surprise, not understanding.


    "The world says you are the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, having received the twelve Incense Scar Initiations, which is unprecedented. So today, I wish to debate with you¡­"


    "So you''vee to pick a fight?" Jiang Liu''s smile gradually faded upon hearing Li Chunfeng''s response.


    As they spoke, Jiang Liu moved the bowl of food in front of Li Chunfeng to the side.


    "Since you''vee to pick a fight, as an unwee guest, you shouldn''t eat this bowl of rice."

 Chapter 43 Formless Gatha (Including Reader Group Number)

    At this moment, Li Chunfeng''s mood was heavy.


    In recent days, the entire Chang''an City had been shaken by the news of a monk with twelve incense scars appearing, and the news had spread swiftly in all directions, like a hurricane.


    Li Chunfeng just so happened to overhear his master, Yuan Tiangang, chatting about how a monk with such profound Buddhist karma had emerged within Great Tang''s borders, surely a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva.


    With a Bodhisattva''s reincarnation, naturally, the influence of the Buddhist Sect in Great Tang would grow everrger, and correspondingly, the influence of the Taoist Sect would inevitably be squeezed.


    As one of the disciples of the Taoist Sect, Li Chunfeng felt an obligation to stand up. So, after hearing about Master Xuanzang swaggering off from Chang''an City, Li Chunfeng followed him.


    His goal was simple, which was to challenge Xuanzang to apetition. If he won, he could naturally embarrass him and suppress his influence.


    "Everyone says Master Xuanzang is the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, yet he''s so stingy with a bowl of food. Isn''t that a bit too petty?" as he was about to eat with his chopsticks, Li Chunfeng watched Jiang Liu directly take the food away. There was no sign of anger on his face as he calmly spoke.


    "There''s a saying that goes, ''treat friends with a feast and enemies with weapons.'' If you''vee specifically to cause trouble, are you expecting me to hypocritically treat you with courtesy? I don''t have such insincerity," Jiang Liu rebutted Li Chunfeng''s mockery with a sneer.


    After a slight pause, he continued, "If you think I''m being petty, then I think you''ve got a thick face indeed. Youe looking for trouble and still expect to be treated well with food and drink? Where''s the logic in that?"


    Jiang Liu''s words left Li Chunfeng momentarily at a loss for words, feeling that his approach was unconventional.


    Great Tang was known as a nation of rituals, regardless of whether they were nobles or monks and Taoists. Anyone with a bit of status tended to cherish their reputation, so even in the face of an enemy, they would try to appear magnanimous and polite.


    Yet unexpectedly, Jiang Liu wasn''t interested in keeping up appearances at all. Not only did he admit to being petty, but he also mocked him for being thick-skinned.


    And yet, what he said made a lot of sense.


    "This little Taoist priest is so unreasonable. Master Xuanzang treated him well, so how can he be petty?" a female worshipper muttered under her breath nearby.


    "Indeed, Master Xuanzang was very polite to him, personally cooking meals for him; yet hees to cause Master Xuanzang trouble. Is there any sense in that? Isn''t this just repaying kindness with ingratitude?" a wealthy man d in silk also nodded and said.


    "I, Tie Niu, think the master''s words make sense. I can''t stand those schrs who are full of pretense, smiling in the face of troublemakers. Isn''t that the very definition of hypocrisy?" a dark-skinned man in coarse clothes also nodded in agreement.


    ...


    Choking on Jiang Liu''s words and now hearing these discussions around him, Li Chunfeng''s face was tinged with embarrassment, feeling that Jiang Liu was quite crafty at winning people''s hearts.


    As a Buddhist Disciple with twelve Scars of Precepts, he personally cooked meals to entertain these folk, so it was no wonder they all sided with him.


    Master Huihai, who was nearby, did not speak. The primary reasons he apanied Jiang Liu were twofold: first, to prevent him from suddenly running away, as he was aware of his attempts to escape from the Great Buddha Temple in the previous days, and his deration to leave the monastic life during the Incense Offering Ceremony was rming; second, to protect Jiang Liu from any demon attacks.


    As for Li Chunfenging to trouble Jiang Liu, Master Huihai had no intention of intervening.


    The young disciple of the Taoist Sect wants topete with Master Xuanzang? As an elder, it was not his ce to interfere.


    "Enough, stop wasting words."


    However, Jiang Liu''s eyes gleamed with anticipation as he stared at Li Chunfeng, seeming eager to start, and he stood up and said, "Since you''vee looking for trouble, then let''s get to it now, shall we?"


    Having the ability to level up by defeating opponents, Jiang Liu dly epted anyone who came looking for trouble.


    Considering Li Chunfeng''s youthful appearance, his cultivation level couldn''t be too exaggerated. Defeating him would mean obtaining Experience Points, Equipment, and even Skill Books that were handed to him on a tter, wouldn''t it?


    Seeing the eager glint in Jiang Liu''s eyes, as if he wished they would start that very moment, Li Chunfeng tensed up slightly in his heart.


    It was obvious that he had great confidence in his demon subduing techniques, and furthermore, he had been rumored to have mastered the Divine Skill of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound in just a few days...


    "Master Xuanzang, you misunderstand. I''m not here to fight, but hearing of your reputation, I had some doubts in my heart, and so I came to discuss the Dao with you," Li Chunfeng gave a salute and replied.


    "Not going to use force?" Hearing Li Chunfeng''s response, Jiang Liu showed a look of disappointment, "If it''s just about debating, then there''s nothing worth discussing. Besides, you are from the Taoist Sect, and I am from the Buddhist Sect, each with its own biases."


    If it came to a physical confrontation, Jiang Liu would naturally be happy; but if it was just a debate, wasn''t that just idle chatter?


    What sounds nice is debating, but what sounds bad is like shrews hurling abuse at each other, to see who can outdo whom. Win or lose, what significance does that have?


    "Whether it''s the Taoist Sect or the Buddhist Sect, the purpose of our scriptures is to lead people to goodness, with all roads leading to the same end. How can we not debate?" Seeing Jiang Liu''s reluctance, Li Chunfeng felt a secret joy in his heart.


    It seemed that Jiang Liu did not know much about the scriptures and Buddhist principles; this made Li Chunfeng believe his chances of winning were even greater. He provocatively said, "Could it be that Master Xuanzang, you dare not?"


    "Right, right, right, I don''t dare, you win, okay, now go..." However, Jiang Liu was not biting Li Chunfeng''s taunt, he waved his hand and settled back down with an indifferent attitude.


    It was like punching cotton; this feeling made Li Chunfeng very ufortable.


    Seeing his indifferent attitude, does he not understand what it means to lose a debate to me? To concede in such an indifferent manner.


    Master Huihai at his side also frowned slightly.


    If Li Chunfeng left now, and it spread that he had debated with Master Xuanzang and made Master Xuanzang retreat in difficulty, admitting defeat, that would be detrimental to the reputation of the Great Buddha Temple and even the entire Buddhist Sect.


    Turning alternately pale and red, to leave now would be a pyrrhic victory.


    Although Jiang Liu made it clear that he did not wish to debate, Li Chunfeng still forced himself to ask, "Master Xuanzang, I only ask you one question as you are a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, you should know, what is the meaning of cultivating Buddhism?"


    What is the meaning of cultivating Buddhism?


    This question changed Master Huihai''s expression.


    The meaning of cultivating Buddhism, how could it be so easily articted? Many monks who have struggled in their Zen practice cannot rify it. Although Master Xuanzang bears the twelve Scars of Precepts, after all, he is a young monk, how could he rify it?


    It''s like asking others, what is the meaning of life? Who can answer that?


    However, Master Huihai''s spirit was heavy, but many of the pilgrims were curiously looking at Xuanzang, their eyes filled with anticipation.


    Indeed, what is the meaning of cultivating Buddhism? How would Master Xuanzang answer?


    The meaning of cultivating Buddhism?


    Of course, Jiang Liu did not have an answer to this question; until now, his whole mind had been set on returning to secr life, and he had read only a few Buddhist scriptures.


    However, at this moment, a sh of inspiration crossed his mind.


    Coming from a modern era that has experienced an explosion of information on the inte and being a thousand years ahead in terms of knowledge and insight, he had an advantage that people of this era could not understand.


    "Brother Xuanming, please fetch me some writing materials," Jiang Liu said to his fellow monk Xuanming sitting beside him.


    "Alright, I''ll get them," not knowing why Jiang Liu wanted them, but Brother Xuanming nodded, hurried down his bowl, and ran out to get the writing materials quickly.


    Taking the writing materials, Jiang Liu stepped outside of the dining hall.


    Behind him, Senior Abbot Faming, Master Huihai, Li Chunfeng, and many pilgrims and the procession of monks followed with curiosity, not knowing how he would answer the question raised.


    Without further words, Jiang Liu picked up the brush and on the wall outside of the dining hall, he wrote down only twenty characters.


    The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror''s stand. Be diligent at all times in wiping it, do not let it gather dust.


    "Abbot, this Formless Gatha is my gift to Jinshan Temple," Jiang Liu said, putting down the brush and turning to the Senior Abbot Faming beside him.


    PS: At the request of some friends, I have created a reader group, the group number is: 364511861, please add the group by verifying with the book name.

 Chapter 44 Open Conspiracy

    "This, merely twenty words, almost encapstes the essence of cultivating Buddhism..." Master Huihai, staring at the Formless Gatha written on the wall, murmured softly with wide eyes.


    Indeed, what is the meaning of cultivating Buddhism? Is it not just as written here: constantly wipe clean, let not dust settle, lest your mind be obscured by the mundane world?


    "Excellent poem, merely twenty words,paring oneself to the Bodhi Tree, and the heart to the Mingjing tform, containing endless Buddhist principles, yet so simple and understandable," a schr in tattered robes loudly admired next to him, incapable ofposing such poetry himself, yet unimpeded in his appreciation.


    "This, this..." As for Li Chunfeng, looking at the Formless Gatha on the wall, he was stunned like a wooden chicken.


    His discernment was naturally present, and he understood even more what the poem implied.


    Who would have thought, this Xuanzang was but a youth, yet his understanding of Buddhist principles was so profound? Was this the monk with twelve scars?


    ...


    The people nearby, whether they were the monks apanying from the Great Buddha Temple, the senior brothers from Jinshan Temple, or the visiting pilgrims, all were amazed by the twenty words of the Formless Gatha on the wall.


    However, for Jiang Liu, creating this scene was just a moment of sudden inspiration.


    Firstly, the Formless Gatha, this Buddhist poem, could perfectly answer the challenging question posed to him by Li Chunfeng. Secondly, by leaving this poem behind, it would surely be passed down, and being written at the Jinshan Temple, it would be considered the original.


    In the future, many people, including Buddhist disciples, would specificallye to see the original site of the Formless Gatha. That wall would be considered a very important attraction.


    In modern pance, this act also helped promote the development of tourism for Jinshan Temple.


    He had been staying at Jinshan Temple since he first crossed over. The senior brothers and masters in the temple had taken good care of him; even Senior Brother Xuankong had lost an arm, partly because of him. If possible, Jiang Liu was very willing to assist Jinshan Temple.


    He understood the principle of repaying even a drop of water with a gushing spring.


    After putting down his brush, Jiang Liu turned his head, looked at Li Chunfeng, and after a brief ponder, said, "Since you called it a discussion of Tao, you posed a question to me. ording to courtesy, I should also pose a question to you, shouldn''t I?"


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s words, Li Chunfeng came back to his senses, moved his gaze away from the poem on the wall, sorted out his emotions, and said, "Please, Master Xuanzang, pose your question."


    "I once saw something but did not understand it, and I hope you can help me solve this puzzle," since the other party had specificallye to challenge him, Jiang Liu naturally had to pose a difficult question for him to answer.


    Buddhist principles? Taoist teachings? In the modern view, both are aspects of life philosophy. After pondering briefly, Jiang Liu had thought of his question.


    "I once saw a runaway carriage, frighteningly fast. Several children, ignoring their parents'' advice, were ying on the road. It looked like the carriage would crash into them, destroying both the vehicle and the children.


    Fortunately, if one just pulled the reins, the carriage would veer towards the roadside, but there was another child ying obediently beside the road, heeding his parents'' guidance. So, do you think one should pull the reins or not?"


    This is a rather famous moral dilemma in modern times, originally involving children ying on railway tracks and an oing train, slightly modified here to involve a carriage.


    "ording to themon mindset, it would be better for one to die than many, wouldn''t it? But the error lies with the group of children; the child ying by the roadside did nothing wrong. If the innocent child must die, how unjust, how unfair would that be? So, do you think the reins should be pulled?" Jiang Liu gazed seriously at Li Chunfeng and asked.


    The question posed by Jiang Liu made everyone present look at each other, their expressions troubled, not knowing how to answer.


    Indeed, whenparing one child to a group, everyone knows what choice to make: losing fewer is a win.


    But clearly if the single child did nothing wrong and the group of children did, how could it be right for the innocent child to end up dead? That simply makes no sense.


    Everyone present, even including Master Huihai from the Great Buddha Temple, did not know how to answer this question for a time, and many pilgrims were looking expectantly at Li Chunfeng.


    However, unlike the inquisitive and expectant gazes of others, Master Huihai''s eyes carried a hint of an amused smile.


    Under the stare of everyone, Li Chunfeng''s face turned alternately pale and flushed, and in the end, he could only shake his head, "I, I don''t know..."


    ¡­


    Jiang Liu, riding in the Buddhist Pnquin, returned to the Great Buddha Temple. After getting off the pnquin, Jiang Liu pressed his palms together and bowed to the procession of monks behind him, "Thank you all for apanying me."


    "Master Xuanzang is too polite. This is what we should do!" Seeing Jiang Liu thanking and bowing, the monks in the procession quickly returned the gesture, answering in unison.


    After bidding farewell to Master Huihai, Jiang Liu went back to his Zen Room to rest.


    Although he had been carried in the Buddhist Pnquin, in an era without cars, traveling back and forth over fifty li, including many mountain roads, still took quite a while, and Jiang Liu felt somewhat exhausted.


    After returning to his Zen Room, Jiang Liu sat cross-legged and activated the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound Divine Skills.


    As the Divine Skills of cultivation technique operated, Jiang Liu could feel his internal strength improving bit by bit. Although slow, it was steady.


    Tip: Earned 1 Experience Point.


    Tip: Earned 1 Experience Point.


    Tip: Earned 1 Experience Point.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, Master Huihai went to where Saint Monk Longhai was located and recounted in great detail everything that had happened at Jinshan Temple that day.


    "Amitabha, the Formless Gatha, huh? I never expected him to have such literary talent, and even more unexpectedly, his understanding of Buddhist principles," Saint Monk Longhai felt quite moved by the poem and murmured softly to himself.


    After murmuring to himself for a moment, Saint Monk Longhai thenmanded, "Disciple Huihai, have someone carve a stone tablet. ce it in the most conspicuous part of our Great Buddha Temple''s za, and inscribe this Formless Gatha on it, to remind all disciples that, in cultivating Buddhism, one must always be diligent in purification."


    "Alright, Senior Brother, I''ve noted it," Master Huihai nodded earnestly in response.


    After nodding, Master Huihai continued, "This Formless Gatha will surely be passed down as a timeless Buddhist poem, and the schrly debate between Li Chunfeng and Xuanzang will probably spread far and wide. For us, this is a good thing..."


    "Indeed, since that is the case, we should add fuel to the fire," nodding his head, Saint Monk Longhai then said.


    "Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother, how should we add this fire?" Hearing this, Master Huihai asked curiously.


    "Li Chunfeng''s question was perfectly answered by Xuanzang, but, the question posed by Xuanzang remains unanswered, doesn''t it? Promote it as a doubt in Xuanzang''s mind. If someone can answer it, our Great Buddha Temple is willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold as a reward."


    "A splendid n! This is a manifest strategy. By doing so, the doctrinal debate between these two young figures will be spread even farther, greatly enhancing our Buddhist Sect''s prestige!" Master Huihai''s eyes brightened, and he eximed in admiration.


    "Amitabha, such a trivial matter, I will just teach it all to Disciple Huihai. Next, I need to arrange for Xuanzang and Daoji to enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall for their training..."


    (PS: It''s about to be a new week, and we need your rmendation tickets to make a surge in the new book ranking, thank you.)

 Chapter 45 Demon-Suppressing Hall

    A hall that doesn''t seem particrly grand, even slightly dpidated, but it exudes a sense of antiquity.


    Beneath the hall, the thick lines resemble some sort of Sanskrit, faintly revealing the character for "demon," suppressed underneath by this hall. This is the Demon-Suppressing Hall, suppressing a Demon Domain below it.


    "Xuanzang, Daoji, be extremely careful when you enter. The demons inside are treacherous, cunning, brutal, and bloodthirsty. Over the years, countless outstanding disciples of our sect have lost their lives there," Saint Monk Longhai cautioned outside the Demon-Suppressing Hall, after all, both disciples were too important to the Buddhist Sect, neither could afford to be lost inside.


    "Master, rest assured, your disciple understands," After two days of healing and rest, Daoji''s injuries had healed, and he nodded solemnly.


    "Holy Monk, when do we go in?" As for Jiang Liu beside him, he seemed a bit impatient.


    Practicing Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound might also increase Experience Points, but just over 300 points per hour. To Jiang Liu, the speed of gaining Experience Points was too slow. Given a monster-farming sacred ce like the Demon-Suppressing Hall, naturally, he could hardly wait to get in.


    Seeing Jiang Liu''s impatience, it didn''t seem like he was about to face a life-or-death crisis, but rather as if he were about to go treasure hunting, causing the corner of Longhai''s mouth to twitch slightly.


    However, seeing that Daoji was carrying a pack while Jiang Liu had empty hands, he said, "Xuanzang, don''t you need to prepare before entering the Demon-Suppressing Hall? If you''re to stay for a few days, shouldn''t you get ready food and daily necessities?"


    "Don''t worry, Holy Monk, I''ve prepared everything," Jiang Liu replied without going into too much detail. Naturally, he had stored all the essential supplies in his storage space.


    Since Jiang Liu spoke so, Longhai didn''t press further and raised his hand, gently pointing forward.


    The great doors of the Demon-Suppressing Hall slowly opened, and from outside looking in, one couldn''t see clearly into the dimly lit interior. Immediately afterward, Jiang Liu and Daoji entered the Demon-Suppressing Hall one after another.


    Once inside, they could see that the hall was filled with a mist that seemed to be there yet not, hampering one''s vision, making it hard to see far.


    From the outside, the Demon-Suppressing Hall didn''t appear to be veryrge, but once inside, they realized it seemed to form its own space, as walking hundreds of meters forward had not brought them to any walls.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve heard that the demons inside the hall are cruel and bloodthirsty. We must support each other to get through," Daoji said in a low voice, remaining vignt of his surroundings.


    "Indeed, that''s a given¡­" Looking at Daoji by his side, Jiang Liu nodded as well.


    If they were to enterbat, he would be his teammate. Naturally, in a team state fighting the enemy, they had to take care of each other.


    Chirp chirp...


    After walking for about fifteen minutes, suddenly, a sharp noise came from within the mist, like a steel needle scraping on iron, extremely unpleasant to the ears.


    Then, a ck beast resembling a hyena with a single horn emerged from the thick fog.


    "This guy sure is ugly," Daojimented as he eyed the two creatures.


    The monster did not respond to Daoji''s words, its greedy eyes fixated on the two men, and then with a leap, it pounced towards them.


    "Can''t speak, huh? Looks like it''s just the lowest rank of monster," Daoji mocked, observing that the hyena-like creature did not verbally retaliate, he murmured softly.


    As he spoke, he lifted his finger, and an image of a lotus appeared at its tip. Then, a Lotus Finger Power shot out like a silken ribbon towards the creature.


    With a puff, the Finger Power instantly pierced through the brain of the creature, causing it to fall to the ground, twitch for a few moments, and then lie still.


    Notification: Gained 25 Experience Points, 4 gold.


    Teamed up with Daoji, Jiang Liu did nothing initially, but as soon as Daoji killed the monster, a system prompt appeared, and Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, teaming up to y monsters was the best way to earn Experience Points.


    Moving forward, single-horned monsters resembling hyenas became more frequent. It was apparent that the two had ventured into a monster colony within the Demon-Suppressing Hall.


    At first, Jiang Liu was happy to let Daoji take the lead while he simply reaped the Experience Points. As the number of hyenas increased, sometimes ten or eight at a time, Jiang Liu had to join the fight.


    "Heh heh heh, humans, did another two baldiese here to be our meal?" After Jiang Liu and Daoji had in dozens of monsters, sinister voices finally spoke up.


    Out of the dense fog, severalrge figures slowly emerged. They were still hyenas, but these were farrger than the ones they''d initially encountered.


    The ones they''d met before were only the size of dogs, but these were asrge as Fierce Tigers, baring their teeth, their eyes filled with greed.


    "They can speak humannguage? Eight monsters!" Daoji''s expression grew solemn upon seeing these talking hyena monsters.


    Solo fights wouldn''t be a problem, but facing eight all at once was a different story.


    "Monsters that speak are demons, so these hyena monsters are around level 10-20?" Jiang Liu was serious, but mostly excited.


    After killing so many minions, it was time for some more worthy monsters.


    "Senior brother, it seems we''re in for a tough battle," Daoji said, gripping his Chant Beads and activating the power of Arhat Fist as he stood beside Jiang Liu.


    "A tough battle? I''d just call it a bit of a nuisance..." Jiang Liu responded confidently,pared to Daoji''s solemnity.


    Although he might be slightly behind in level, he had plenty of Skills and various Equipment that enhanced his strengths. To Jiang Liu, these monsters were just experience on legs.


    "Attack together, eat them!" The monsters didn''t give Jiang Liu and Daoji much chance to talk. Drool dripping from their mouths, one particrly huge hyena, strong as an ox, roared, and all eight charged at them.


    Swift Fire Bead!


    Thanks to the passive effect of the Redwood Ring, which doubled the damage of the first attack, Jiang Liu naturally used his strongest single-target Attack Skill.


    A fireball the size of a washbowl sted out, exploding on one of the hyenas, and amidst its yelps, the creaturended on the ground, charred.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, the Health Bar of this hyena dropped by more than half instantly.


    "Starry Sky Spread!" As the remaining monsters closed in, Jiang Liu yanked off the Sandalwood Prayer Beads from his neck, scattering the 108 Buddha Beads in a fan shape that hit and repelled all the hyena monsters.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Liu sprung forward, not retreating but advancing towards the charred hyena, lifting his Demon Subduing Staff, and smashing it down on the hyena''s head.


    The Health Bar emptied in an instant, and the hyena let out a half cry of distress before copsing and remaining motionless.


    The battle had just started. Out of eight monsters, Jiang Liu swiftly slew one.


    Notification: Earned 220 Experience Points, 30 gold.


    Notification: Acquired Arhat Mace. Please check your inventory.

 Chapter 46 The Adorable Little Witch

    "Hiss, how formidable. Is he really just at the beginning of the Meridian Unblocking Realm?" Daoji hadn''t even had the chance to act when he saw Jiang Liu instantly y one of the monsters, and couldn''t help but take a sharp breath of cold air.


    It seemed like in just two days, his strength had increased even further?


    "Indeed, this Demon Subduing Staff is such a great treasure for ying monsters in the Demon-Suppressing Hall."


    Daoji felt that Jiang Liu''s strength had improved, but Jiang Liu himself knew that it was all thanks to the Demon Subduing Staff¡ªnot only did it add 70 points of Attack Power, but more importantly, it was the staff''s passive effect.


    It could deal 30% extra damage to demon, ghost, and monster type targets. Naturally, when fighting the monsters in the Demon Cave, Jiang Liu''s disyed strength was much higher than when he was sparring with Daoji before.


    With a beckoning motion, the 108 Sandalwood Buddha Beads he had shot out returned to Jiang Liu''s hand, reassembling into a ne that he wore around his neck. Jiang Liu raised his Demon Subduing Staff again and turned his head to shout, "What are you spacing out for? Aren''t you going to act?"


    "Oh, right." Chided by Jiang Liu, Daoji snapped back to reality, nodded, and hurriedly followed behind Jiang Liu as they charged forth.


    Sometimes, battle was a contest of momentum. Jiang Liu had instantly in one of the monsters just now, startling the others. So, as the two of them charged over, mentally overwhelmed, the monsters found themselves suppressed by Jiang Liu and Daoji.


    These monsters were indeed very powerful, and after an intense fight, Jiang Liu had been bitten several times and shed by their ws.


    However, the Defense bonus of his own equipment was quite strong, especially the Vidyaraja Crown which added 180 Defense and also had a life-stealing effect.


    Thus, as Jiang Liu alsonded hits on these monsters, his injuries gradually healed.


    As time passed, the monsters were killed one by one, and the pressure on Jiang Liu and hispanion slowly eased.


    When thest andrgest hyena-like monster was finally in, both were left gasping for breath with weariness.


    Tip: You have gained 820 Experience Points and 100 money.


    Tip: You have obtained a Bodhi Ring, please check your inventory to receive it.


    Tip: Your level has increased by 1, current level is 12.


    A refreshing surge flowed through his body, instantly dispelling all fatigue, asforting as drinking a cup of ice-cold water on a dog day.


    Since Jiang Liu wasn''t seriously injured to begin with, there was no talk of his wounds beingpletely healed, but he did inwardly sigh over his level increase.


    As his level grew higher, leveling up became slower. Calcting roughly, he had gained over 8000 Experience Points from killing monsters in the Demon-Suppressing Hall and from his cultivation sessions with Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to move from level 11 to 12.


    Who knew how many Experience Points it would take to get from level 12 to 13.


    However, as the level increases, the amount of Experience Points required for future levels would naturally rise¡ªthis was to be expected.


    Having just in eight monsters, two pieces of equipment seemed to have dropped, and Jiang Liu opened his inventory space to check.


    Indeed, the first monster had dropped a weapon, the Arhat Mace, and thest monster dropped a Bodhi Ring; another monster had also dropped a Healing Potion. The drop rate didn''t seem too bad.


    His gaze fell on the two pieces of equipment, and their attributes quickly appeared before Jiang Liu''s eyes.


    Arhat Mace (Fine Quality): Requires level 15, Attack Power +50, Passive: Sacrificial Strike, consumes 60% of current Health Points to deal 800% damage to the target, Durability 8/10.


    Bodhi Ring (Common Quality): Requires level 10, Attack Power +15, Durability 1/10


    The Arhat Mace was a weapon but paled inparison to his Demon Subduing Staff, and he couldn''t equip it until level 15, making it somewhatckluster for Jiang Liu.


    The passive effect might be strong, but the cost was too great. After pondering, Jiang Liu took out the Arhat Mace.


    "Daoji, I see you don''t have a fitting weapon. I have a Buddhist Treasure here for you," said Jiang Liu. If Daoji became stronger, it meant more Experience Points for Jiang Liu as well¡ªit was for his own good.


    Lacking the Defense of Jiang Liu''s equipment or the life-stealing effect of the Vidyaraja Crown, Daoji was currently tending his wounds. Surprised by the Arhat Mace Jiang Liu handed to him, he stared at Jiang Liu in astonishment: "Brother, are you really giving me this Buddhist Treasure?"


    "Cut the crap, you want it or not?" Jiang Liu rolled his eyes in annoyance.


    "I''ll take it, of course, thank you, brother, thank you!" Seeing Jiang Liu''s serious expression, not at all joking, Daoji hurriedly reached out to take the Arhat Mace.


    Grasping it in his hand, he could clearly feel the formidable power contained within the Arhat Mace. With it, his strength was certain to increase significantly, filling Daoji with gratitude.


    Having given the Arhat Mace to Daoji, Jiang Liu then took out a Bodhi Ring, sighed softly, and slid it onto his finger.


    The Bodhi Ring added 15 Attack Power, which was decent enough, better than nothing.


    But seeing that it only had 1 Durability Point, Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched. Was this seriously a piece of defective equipment? Maybe it would be junk in less than two days?


    Without a Life Profession, he had no way to repair the durability of his Equipment.


    After putting on the Bodhi Ring, Jiang Liu looked over himself. He could see all the equipment he was wearing at a nce.


    Weapon: Demon Subduing Staff (Perfect Quality): Requires Level 10, Attack Power +70, Passive: Deals 30% additional damage to demons and monsters, Durability 9/10.


    Clothes: None


    Helmet: Vidyaraja Crown (Legendary Quality): No level requirement, Defense +260 (10-100000, varies with user level), Special Effect: Converts 10% of the damage dealt to a target into the user''s Health Points, Durability 66/100.


    Ne: Sandalwood Buddha Beads (Fine Quality): Increases Buff Skill effects by 15%,es with the Skill - Starry Sky Spread: Shoots out 108 Buddha Beads at once, causing a knock-back effect in a fan-shaped range, Cooldown Time 1 day, Durability 10/10.


    Belt: None


    Ring: Redwood Ring (Fine Quality): Attack Power +20, Passive Effect: After 300 seconds out ofbat, the first attack deals double damage, Durability 9/10.


    Ring: Bodhi Ring (Common Quality): Requires Level 10, Attack Power +15, Durability 1/10


    Bracelet: Bronze Bracelet (Common Quality): Requires Level 10, Defense +20, Durability 9/10.


    Bracelet: None


    Shoes: Hemp Shoes (Common Quality): Defense +5, Movement Speed +10%, Durability 8/10.


    Special essory: Skill Bookcase (Special essory): Can ce three Skill Books from other Professions inside, gaining the conditions to learn the skills.


    Special essory: None


    Special essory: None


    Before he knew it, he already had quite a lot of equipment. Among the ten main equipment slots, he was only missing a bracelet, a piece of clothing, and a belt to be fully equipped.


    ...


    Demon-Suppressing Hall, deep within.


    A three-meter-tall, crimson-bodied demon, holding a steel trident, looked solemnly at a little girl in front of him, who appeared as immacte as a porcin doll and seemed to be about three or four years old.


    "Hey, I''m asking you, am I cute?" the little porcin-doll-like girl asked, bouncing over to the demon with cheerful innocence.


    "Cu-cute..." the demon answered apprehensively, swallowing hard.


    Boom.


    The demon''s body suddenly turned to ashes and dispersed like smoke.


    The little girl turned to leave, her voice a bit choked up: "I, I don''t want to be the cute one, I... I want to be an ugly and cruel witch, sniffle sniffle..."

 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Terrifying Humans

    A fierce tiger rose to its feet, its massive and heavy paws continuously swinging, casting cold streaks of light with each swipe.


    In front of this upright walking fierce tiger, Jiang Liu wielded his Demon Subduing Staff like a dragon, and the shes between the tiger''s paw and the staff sent out bursts of energy. The back-and-forth battle between man and demon was extremely intense.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Swinging his Demon Subduing Staff, Jiang Liu kept retreating. In terms of strength, even though he had no skills or equipment, the power of the Tiger Demon was still overwhelming, befitting its ability to walk upright,parable to a Demon Soldier.


    Had it not been for the amplification from his equipment, which greatly enhanced both his defense and attack, he would have had no chance against the Tiger Demon''s strength.


    However, strong as the Tiger Demon was, defeating Jiang Liu was not so easy. Daoji, though injured and lying on the ground, was not without the power to fight back. Raising his finger from afar, a Lotus Finger Power shot toward the Tiger Demon, forcing it to divide its attention to guard against his attack.


    In the fierce battle, Jiang Liu was scratched several times by the tiger''s ws, but one could see in his eyes that the health bar of the Tiger Demon had also dropped to a very low level.


    "Senior brother!" suddenly, at that moment, the severely injured Daoji on the ground shouted out.


    Jiang Liu understood immediately and, instead of blocking the thick tiger pawing down with his Demon Subduing Staff, he raised his fleshly palm to meet it head-on.


    At the same time, he internally chanted softly, Vajra Mantra!


    An invisible Vajra Power blessed Jiang Liu''s body, and upon contact with the tiger''s paw, he felt a sharp pain in his palm, as if it were being pricked by needles.


    But despite the stinging pain, Jiang Liu firmly grasped the Tiger Demon''s paw, not allowing it to break free.


    Almost at the same time, a string of chant beads swelled in the wind and flew over like a flood dragon from behind, wrapping around the Tiger Demon. It was the effect of Daoji''s Buddhist Treasure Chant Beads.


    As the Tiger Demon was bound, Jiang Liu''s Demon Subduing Staff harshly smashed down on its head, sending it flying away.


    Simultaneously, he raised his palm and released a ball of me that exploded on the Tiger Demon, clearing out itsst bit of health bar.


    System Notification: You''ve gained 1760 Experience Points and 300 coins.


    System Notification: You''ve obtained "Guanyin Mantra." Please check your inventory space to view it.


    System Notification: Level up by 1, current level: 13.


    With the Tiger Demon in, a series of notifications appeared.


    After the intense battle, Jiang Liu''s injuries were not light, but with the leveling up, a cool sensation swept through his body, erasing all fatigue andpletely healing his wounds.


    The ces where the Tiger Demon''s ws had torn his flesh, previously gaping wounds, now did not even bear a scar.


    "Three days'' time, and I''ve leveled up again?" Receiving the system notification and seeing his level increase again brought a surge of delight to Jiang Liu''s heart. Your journey continues with empire


    He quickly estimated that in these three days of monster fighting, he had gained about 20,000 Experience Points in total. The level up was hard-earned.


    He was fortunate to be in the Demon-Suppressing Hall; otherwise, earning 20,000 Experience Points outside would have been no easy feat.


    Of course, leveling up was indeed joyful, but what made Jiang Liu even happier was the visible rate of strength improvement.


    Back at Jinshan Temple, when he encountered an injured Wolf Demon capable of walking upright like a Demon Soldier, both he and Gaoyang had nearly lost their lives.


    But now, inside the Demon-Suppressing Hall, he had managed to honorably y a bipedal Tiger Demon together with Daoji.


    Comparison of the two scenarios allowed Jiang Liu to clearly perceive the improvement in his own strength.


    Opening his pack space, indeed, following the death of the Tiger Demon, a Skill Book, specifically suited for Monk professions, had appeared in his inventory.


    With his back towards Daoji, Jiang Liu took out the Guanyin Mantra Skill Book, a level 10 skill that he could now learn.


    After spending 1 Skill Point, the Guanyin Mantra Skill Book transformed into myriad points of starlight, merging into Jiang Liu''s body.


    Guanyin Mantra (Primary Level 1): Restores 10% of maximum Life Value, with a Cooldown Time of 600 seconds.


    Having learned the skill, Jiang Liu approached Daoji, saw that his Health Bar was at about one-third, thought for a moment, and activated the Guanyin Mantra.


    With a wave of his hand, a faint green light slowly fused into Daoji''s body, and subsequently, a small portion of Daoji''s Health Bar recovered.


    "What an amazing ability, I feel much of my injuries have eased," feeling the change in his wounds, Daoji looked at Jiang Liu in astonishment. He had such a technique? Why hadn''t he seen Jiang Liu use it before?


    "How is it? Feeling alright?" Jiang Liu asked, after casting Guanyin Mantra on Daoji, and helped him up from the ground.


    "With that ability just now, a few more times and I should be fine," Daoji replied with a hopeful look in his eyes.


    "After using it once, we have to wait a while before using it again," Jiang Liu shook his head, with a Cooldown Time of 600 seconds, which was indeed quite long.


    Hearing that it would take a while before it could be used again, Daoji nodded in understanding, and after a brief moment of silence, he suggested, "Brother, we''ve been inside for three days now, and I feel that I''m about to make a breakthrough to the Body Tempering Realm. The food and water we brought are also almost depleted..."


    Daoji meant he wanted to leave the Demon-Suppressing Hall. Jiang Liu of course understood, but having found such a Holy Leveling Ground, he naturally did not want to leave.


    However, before Jiang Liu could respond, suddenly, the sound of frantic footsteps arose. At the same time, an upright walking tortoise was seen scurrying over at an incredibly fast pace.


    "Another Demon n-level creature?!" Seeing the swiftly running tortoise, Daoji tensed up. The previous encounter with the Tiger Demon had already left him severely wounded; now facing such a creature, his fate seemed grim.


    Bang!


    Almost at the same time, a ck me moved even faster, instantlynding on the tortoise, and amidst the piercing scream, the creature turned into ashes in the blink of an eye. The Demon Creature of Demon n-level was instantly killed with a single strike.


    This scene left both Jiang Liu and Daoji astonished. Was there a Great Demon Head hidden behind them?


    From the direction where the ck me had shot over, footsteps were heard, and soon after, a tiny, doll-like girl, about four or five years old, came hopping over.


    However, upon seeing Jiang Liu and Daoji, the little girl stopped.


    Jiang Liu and the little girl stood off against each other, and for a moment, the atmosphere was dead and eerie.


    "Brother... This being that canmand Spell Supernatural Abilities is at least of Demon General level," Daoji said in a whisper, his face gone pale as he watched the hopping little girl.


    However, just as Jiang Liu and Daoji were fearfully looking at the little girl, wondering how to escape with their lives, the little girl herself began to scream in horror, turned around, and fled desperately.


    "Ah! Humans! It''s humans, how scary! There are humans here! And it''s the terrifying kind of human with a bald head!"

 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 The Inverted Worldview

    Although she appeared to be just a little girl around four or five years old, she had killed a Demon Soldier level creature with a single move and was able tomand spell-like powers, which unequivocally showcased that the little girl possessed the strength of a Demon General.


    Yet, having such strength, she was so timid? Instead, she turned around and ran away?


    This situation left Jiang Liu and Daoji looking at each other in dismay, utterly stunned.


    "Senior brother? Are we that scary?" Daoji turned his head, looking utterly baffled as he asked Jiang Liu.


    "This little witch, although her strength is terrifying, she must have some problems with her mind," Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched slightly, and he continued, as if this was the only exnation that made sense.


    Initially, seeing that the little witch''s strength was terrifying, both Jiang Liu and Daoji had been preparing to find a way to escape with their lives, but now, since she had turned to run away first, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Perhaps due to being overly frightened, the little witch, in her haste to escape, actually stumbled and fell to the ground, rubbing a swelling bump on her head, and began crying softly.


    Looking at the little girl who seemed only four or five years old, sitting on the ground crying alone, Jiang Liu thought for a moment and decided to walk over and talk to her.


    Since this little witch was so scared of him, he needed to figure out why, after all.


    "Senior brother, be careful, our master said that the demons in the Demon-Suppressing Hall are all cruel and cunning. Her appearance might be a trick to deceive us."


    Although it seemed safe for the moment, this little witch still possessed an unmatched power, so Daoji felt it was better to keep a respectful distance, who knew if she was deceiving them?


    "Rx, if she was really deceiving us, why would she have shown such a powerful force just now? Isn''t that just making us wary of her? Moreover, if she really wanted to harm us, would she need to be so roundabout?" patting Daoji''s shoulder, Jiang Liu replied.


    This statement made Daoji pause, it did seem reasonable.


    "You, you stay away, I, I''m not afraid of you, don''te closer, I, I''m super fierce..." the little witch, sitting on the ground and crying softly, seeing Jiang Liu approaching, scrambled backward and, with the frailest expression, uttered the fiercest words.


    While she spoke, she deliberately bared her teeth to look fierce, showing two tiny sharp canines, which instead gave her a cute appearance.


    Although this little witch was timid and seemed very scared, she still possessed a power that he couldn''t resist, so Jiang Liu didn''t get too close.


    After stopping in his tracks, he tried to show a rather kind smile, "Little girl, don''t be afraid, I mean no harm, I''m a good person, I just want to talk to you."


    "Wow, just, just like this, so scary, I know you are a good person, you are the most terrifying good person people talk about...".


    Although Jiang Liu showed a kind smile and spoke softly, it did notfort the little witch at all; instead, her reaction grew more intense, as if this kind demeanor was even more terrifying than a fierce and ferocious expression.


    "A terrifying good person? What the hell is that¡­" Jiang Liu''s face darkened, listening to the little witch''s words, as if being a good person was the most terrifying thing?


    "Alright, no more nonsense, I told you, I am a bad guy, if you don''t behave, I will be rude!" His kind smile fading, his expression turned dark, and Jiang Liu menacingly threatened.


    This time, the little witch quieted down, though she still looked terrified, she dared not move around or make a sound anymore.


    Indeed, calling himself a good person only made her more fearful, but showing the demeanor of a viin actually calmed her down.


    Jiang Liu inwardly ridiculed this, yet his expression remained unchanged. He asked sternly, "First, tell me, why are you so afraid of humans?"


    "Ever since I was little, my father always warned me that humans are terrifying, especially monks like you who are bald. You all love to convert demons, making us into good demons. Just a few years ago, I saw Uncle Yellow Lion King being converted..."


    The Little Witch looked at Jiang Liu with fright, not daring to hide anything, and candidly answered, recalling the scene when a powerful demon had been converted, looking quite terrified.


    Upon saying this, the Little Witch fell silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the nine incense scars on Daoji''s head, and said, "Also, my father said, the more spots a monk has on his head, the more terrifying he is."


    "So, in the cognition of demons in this Demon Cave, is evil considered the nature, and goodness a disgrace? Thus, the values of these demons arepletely opposite to those of humans, aren''t they?"


    In just a few words,bined with the Little Witch''s attitude, Jiang Liu was able to roughly understand what was going on.


    In simple terms, humans pride themselves on being kind and fear those who are evil and cruel, avoiding them with respect. If there truly is a demon capable of reversing the nature of humans, turning kind people into those who are evil and cruel, then such a demon is indeed very terrifying.


    Simrly, the demons in the Demon Cave pride themselves on being evil and cruel, and consider goodness shameful.


    Moreover, Buddhist monks like to convert demons, so in the eyes of these demons, monks who can change the nature of cruel demons into kind demons are seen as the most terrifying people?


    Moreover, this Little Witch had witnessed her so-called Uncle Yellow Lion King, presumably a malevolent and strong demon, being converted right before her eyes, which could be said to have caused a psychological shadow; therefore, seeing Daoji and himself had terrified her into fleeing.


    Especially since Daoji''s head is marked with nine incense scars.


    As for Jiang Liu? Because he was wearing a Vidyaraja Crown, it wasn''t visible; otherwise, Jiang Liu really wondered if his twelve incense scars could have knocked her unconscious from fear.


    Jiang Liu''s question had already been answered, and seeing Jiang Liu pondering, the Little Witch spoke, "I''ve answered everything you asked, can I go now? I told you, my demonic aura is formidable, righteous aura cannot invade me, you, you won''t be able to convert me..."


    "Brother, let her go..." Daoji, seeing Jiang Liu hesitating and seemingly not prepared to let the Little Witch leave, whispered softly.


    After all, the Little Witch''s cultivation level was much more terrifying than either of theirs. Although she was afraid of them, who knew if she might suddenly attack?


    Staying with her, one always felt ack of security in life.


    Jiang Liu harbored his inner hesitations and did not respond.


    Indeed, keeping the Little Witch by his side was very dangerous, but at the same time, in Jiang Liu''s view, it also had its benefits.


    If he could keep her by his side, wouldn''t fighting and leveling up in the Demon-Suppressing Hall be like sweeping away everything? Discover more stories at empire


    From the perspective of a video game, it was like having someone power-level him.


    As the saying goes, high risk has high return; faced with the risk and immense benefits, Jiang Liu''s inner self wavered...

 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 The meat and wine pass through the bowels, but Buddha keeps them in his heart.

    "Senior Brother, do you really want to keep her by your side?" In the Demon-Suppressing Hall, the Little Witch was scouting ahead while Jiang Liu and Daoji followed behind, whispering.


    It was hard to understand, why on earth did his Senior Brother decide to keep such a powerful witch by his side?


    "Junior Brother, haven''t you heard that all beings are equal? This witch may have high cultivation level, but there''s still the possibility that she could turn over a new leaf. If she can be converted, wouldn''t that be a meritorious deed? The Buddha once cut flesh to feed eagles; what I am doing is merely emting the Buddha," Jiang Liu responded softly to Daoji''s words.


    Prevarication¡ªthat was all Jiang Liu''s answer was.


    But without hauling out this big banner of the Buddha, should he tell Daoji that he wanted to keep the Little Witch by his side to help him level up by fighting monsters?


    "Senior Brother, you are truly great! Your words and actions are enlightening; I have learned much," however, Jiang Liu''s evasive words seemed to fill Daoji with admiration.


    Daoji harbored no suspicions about Jiang Liu''s evasive words. After all, apart from this exnation, he could see no other reason that could usibly ount for Jiang Liu keeping the Little Witch by his side.


    The Little Witch walked alone ahead, cautious in her demeanor, devoid of the cheerfulness she had when alone. She always felt as if there were a monstrous flood or predator lurking behind her.


    Being forced to walk with the bald-headed human, she felt as if she had been kidnapped. Should she try to escape?


    With a thought, the Little Witch stealthily looked back.


    Daoji''s head with nine distinct incense scars was clearly visible, and Jiang Liu, who had removed his Vidyaraja Crown, also had twelve conspicuous incense scars.


    Seeing this, the Little Witch shuddered and quickly averted her gaze, frightened by the sight.


    After walking for a while, they soon encountered a huge Wolf Demon in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, blocking the way forward for Jiang Liu and the others.


    Apparently considering the Little Witch, who looked no older than four or five, an easy target, the Wolf Demon fixed its gaze on her. As it crouched on all fours it spoke in human tongue, "What a cute little one, you must taste delicious."


    A jet-ck me shed by, and as soon as the Wolf Demon finished speaking, it instantly turned into a charred corpse, utterly annihted.


    "Hmph, cute? You''re cute, your whole family is cute!" Pulling back her raised hand, the Little Witch still seething, spoke resentfully to the scorched corpse of the Wolf Demon.


    "Huh?" After the Little Witch dealt a one-hit-kill to the Wolf Demon, Jiang Liu was stunned to find that he had not gained any experience points.


    This made him tense up. Looking at the team status, indeed, in his field of view, there were only Daoji''s teammate icons and not the Little Witch''s.


    "What''s happening? Can''t the Little Witch be in my team?" This discovery made Jiang Liu''s countenance fall.


    If they couldn''t be in a team, then what was the point in keeping her by his side?


    "Could it be? Is it because she holds no fondness for me in her heart, that we can''t form a team?" Jiang Liu pondered to himself.


    Over the days, fighting monsters and leveling up, Jiang Liu had teamed up with Gaoyang, Senior Brother Xuankong, and Daoji. Thinking about it, he had some sort of rtionship with these three, which allowed them to form a team, right?


    Otherwise, like the incident with the Old Man Sword who rescued Gaoyang and took him away, even though they fought the Three-Eyed Crow together, Jiang Liu was only kill-stealed and received little experience.


    And the Little Witch, having even less of a rtionship with him, couldn''t form a team for that reason?


    Moreover, whether it was Gaoyang, Senior Brother Xuankong, or Daoji, their levels were quite simr to his, whereas the Little Witch, with her Demon General level cultivation, would be at least level 30 by that standard. So, was it because her level was too high that they couldn''t form a team?


    If he thought it through, the cultivation level of the old man who killed the Three-Eyed Crow must also have been far beyond his own, so this possibility existed as well.


    Whether it was due to the gap in strength or an issue of character favorability that prevented them from teaming up, Jiang Liu wasn''t sure. However, not being able to team up with the Little Witch was certainly not good news for him.


    But, having already decided to keep the Little Witch by his side, even if they couldn''t team up right now, Jiang Liu had no intention of sending her away. He felt he should at least figure out why he and the Little Witch couldn''t form a team.


    ```


    Having rified the reason, in the future, he would be able to more urately select targets capable of forming a team to hunt monsters.


    Along the way, they encountered several monsters, some were in by Jiang Liu himself, and others were instantly killed by the Little Witch.


    However, for those killed by the Little Witch, he gained no experience points, which clearly indicated that there was indeed no possibility for the two to form a team.


    "As for the inability to form a team, I should properly verify my own conjecture...," Jiang Liu murmured to himself after killing several monsters in session.


    "Alright, everyone sit down and take a rest," just as they had killed a bovine demon, Jiang Liu took out a knife, cut off arge chunk of beef, and began to prepare the seasoning.


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s words, the Little Witch naturally had no objections. She stopped, sat down at a distance from Jiang Liu and Daoji, not daring toe close but also not daring to run away.


    "Senior Brother, what... what are you doing?" asked Daoji, eyes wide in disbelief, as he watched Jiang Liu take out the seasonings and start to prepare the beef.


    "As you can see, I''m preparing food. Your food is finished, isn''t it? And I don''t have much left, what else should we eat if not this?" Jiang Liu said naturally, seeing the exaggerated expression on Daoji''s face.


    "But we are disciples of the Buddhist Sect, and you, Senior Brother, are an exemr to monks everywhere. How can we eat meat!?" Daoji said, shaking his head with a resolute expression, unwilling to break his religious precepts.


    "Junior Brother, let me ask you, what do you think is more important in cultivating Buddhism, the cultivation of practice or the cultivation of the heart?" Jiang Liu asked Daoji as he ignited a me and put the meat over it.


    Daoji fell into a brief silence before answering, "The cultivation of the heart."


    "That''s right. The so-called rules and precepts are but external forms. As long as the Buddha in one''s heart doesn''t change, what does it matter if we eat meat?" Jiang Liu said, pausing slightly before continuing, "I''ll give you a phrase, ''Though wine and meat pass through the gut, Buddha stays in the heart''."


    Looking at Daoji, Jiang Liu shook his head inwardly.


    When he first heard the Dharma name Daoji, Jiang Liu could not help but ridicule in his heart as it was the same as that of Ji Gong. But since the era in which the living Buddha Ji Gong lived was not the Tang Dynasty, Jiang Liu dismissed it as simply a coincidence of names.


    However, after the Incense Offering Ceremony and receiving nine incense scars, Jiang Liu grew more skeptical. Could it be that this Daoji was really the reincarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat?


    Yet, seeing his reluctance to drink alcohol or eat meat, where was the image of Ji Gong as Jiang Liu remembered him?


    "Though wine and meat pass through the gut, Buddha stays in the heart?" Daoji muttered the Zen phrase to himself, head bowed.


    Within that short phrase of just ten characters, there seemed to be an exceedingly profound Buddhist wisdom.


    If someone else had said these words, Daoji naturally would have ignored them, but these were spoken by Jiang Liu. As a monk bestowed with twelve incense scars, Daoji certainly could not disregard his words.


    After pondering for a moment, Daoji stood up, straightened his monk''s robe, and respectfully bowed to Jiang Liu, "Amitabha, thank you for your teaching, Senior Brother. It has enlightened me."


    "I had previously heard that Senior Brother debated with Li Chunfeng at Jinshan Temple and left behind the Formless Gatha that won the praise of thousands. Today, with this Zen phrase, I sincerely admire your understanding of the Buddhist Law," he added.


    "Hmm, it''s good that you understand," Jiang Liu said, flipping the meat in his hands and nodding slightly with an inscrutable air, though in his heart, he knew that his words were merely a justifiable reason to eat meat.


    "Hey, do you want some beef?" After roasting it for a while and seeing that the beef was already sixty to seventy percent cooked, Jiang Liu asked the Little Witch, who was sitting several yards away.


    "No!" She shook her head with a determined look, and said she dared not eat his food.


    Yet, as her nose twitched subtly, the Little Witch secretly swallowed her saliva.


    Delicious!


    ```

 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Team Formation Restrictions

    In front of Jiang Liu, arge piece of beef was neatly sliced one piece after another. He gently picked up a slice, put it into his mouth, and the rich aroma of meat instantly filled his mouth, making his eyes squint with satisfaction.


    Having stayed at the Great Buddha Temple so long, eating vegetarian food every day, his taste buds had grown dull. Finally, he had the chance to savor meat again, which was not easy toe by.


    Daoji nced at Jiang Liu''s refined movements and then at the Little Witch beside him, who was gleefully devouring arge chunk of beef. Finally, his gaze settled on arge piece of beef in his own hands. He hesitated but, driven by unbearable hunger and the tempting smell of the meat, he swallowed and tore off a small strip.


    "Amitabha, ''the meat and wine pass through but the Buddha stays in my heart.'' What my fellow monk said makes sense, I do this out of necessity...", watching the small strip of beef he had torn off, Daoji quietly justified his action to himself.


    He didn''t care anymore that the scriptures described wine as sour and meat as foul. Slowly, he opened his mouth and put the small strip of roasted beef inside.


    His eyes lit up instantly. After chewing quickly a few times, Daoji tore off another big piece¡­


    Observing Daoji and the Little Witch enjoying their meal, Jiang Liu smiled secretly to himself but said nothing.


    In the Demon-Suppressing Hall, the two men and the demon ate their meat in peace, creating a quiet yet harmonious atmosphere.


    "By the way, Little Witch, you mentioned your father earlier. Where is he?", perhaps the quiet was a bit too much, while eating his meat, Jiang Liu turned to ask the Little Witch beside him.


    The Little Witch had a Demon General Level cultivation from such a young age, so her so-called father''s cultivation must be even more extraordinary. Jiang Liu didn''t want to be walking along nicely only to be killed by a powerful demon.


    Fooling the Little Witch was easy, but her father was likely not going to be deceived.


    "I was abandoned by my father because I''m cute, thrown from the Demon Realm into this Demon-Suppressing Hall...", upon hearing Jiang Liu''s question, the Little Witch paused in her eating, and then, seemingly unconcerned, she replied.


    "Ah? Abandoned because you''re cute?", the Little Witch''s words stunned Jiang Liu for a moment.


    However, considering that the Demon Realm''s values were almost entirely opposite those of the human world, Jiang Liu came to ept it.


    And no wonder the Wolf Demon hadmented on her cuteness, making the Little Witch re up immediately.


    "Yes, being pretty, being cute, what''s the use? You need to be strong, right?", the Little Witch nodded and calmly answered.


    In her mind, being abandoned because of being cute was not difficult to understand.


    In modern society, many matters are often discussed over a meal, as it indeed seems more convenient to chat while eating.


    Perhaps because they were sharing meat, her fear of Jiang Liu seemed to have lessened a bit, and she even dared to initiate conversation with him, her eyes curious, "I remember reading in books that in your Human Realm, men prefer women who are gentle and boneless, with slim figures, right?"


    "Quite right," Jiang Liu nodded.


    "Women who are weak are more liked by men? Humans are really strange, aren''t they? Aren''t such women just burdens? In our Demon Realm, the stronger a woman is, the more people pursue her. Even among ordinary demons, if a female is interested in a male, she usually shows off her strength to attract him.


    For example, a robust witch carrying a big rock to show her power, that''s what catches more attention," the Little Witch exined.


    Imagining a robust woman carrying a big rock walking past, looking more manly than real men, surrounded by a horde of men ardently wooing her¡­


    Jiang Liu shook his head and cast the image from his mind, feeling it was too beautiful to behold.


    Simultaneously, his understanding of the starkly contrasting values between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm deepened.


    "The fearsome Demon Realm, no wonder humans have always found demons terrifying," Daoji murmured in a low voice beside him, obviously startled by the utterly different perspectives of the Demon Realmpared to the Human Realm.


    After chatting casually with the Little Witch for a while, Jiang Liu not only gained some understanding of the situation in the Demon Realm but also learned more about her situation.


    Beneath the Demon-Suppressing Hall, therey a Demon Cave, something Jiang Liu had known for a while, and some demons from the cave would enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall to serve as training for the disciples of the Great Buddha Temple, which Jiang Liu also understood.


    The Little Witch was originally a demon from the Demon Cave, but because she looked cute, her father felt it was disgraceful, so he simply threw her into the Demon-Suppressing Hall to fend for herself.


    In the eyes of the demons in the Demon Cave, those in the Demon-Suppressing Hall were always in imminent danger, given that bald monks would periodicallye in and kill a batch...


    "Alright, we''ve rested enough, let''s continue,"


    Having eaten and discussed what needed to be discussed, and with time moving on, Jiang Liu stood up and continued walking through the Demon-Suppressing Hall with Daoji and the Little Witch in tow.


    Along the way, they encountered several monsters, but Jiang Liu did not rush to y them. Instead, he let the Little Witch take action and subdue them.


    Once at the demon level, they could speak humannguage, so it was possible tomunicate with them.


    Under the Little Witch''s force, these monsters faced life-or-death decisions and,pletely devoid of any sense of dignity, they readily agreed to be Jiang Liu''s minions.


    Apanied by several monsters, Jiang Liu also experimented to see that all demon-level monsters could team up with him.


    As for the Demon Soldier level monsters, the stronger ones could not, but the weaker ones could...


    "The realm of Demon Soldiers spans levels 20-30. The stronger ones are probably above level 25, while the weaker ones are likely below level 25..."


    After capturing and experimenting with several more monsters, Jiang Liu pondered the team formation situation internally.


    It appeared that if the Demon Soldier level monsters were weak, they could team up with him. So did that mean teaming up had nothing to do with so-called favorability but was mainly about the power gap?


    Given that he was now level 13, it seemed that he couldn''t team up with monsters more than about 10 levels higher than him.


    At that thought, Jiang Liu sighed somewhat helplessly. He had originally hoped the Little Witch could help him fight monsters and level up quickly. It looked like that would bepletely impossible for a while.


    At this moment, Jiang Liu finally understood the conditions and restrictions for forming a team.


    Let''s not discuss the specifics of Jiang Liu and his party walking through the Demon-Suppressing Hall and leveling up through fighting monsters.


    Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the Demon-Suppressing Hall, a huge altar suddenly burst into intense light.


    Hisss hisss hisss...


    Blue lightning appeared out of nowhere, and within this lightning, a leopard, cow-calf-sized with bizarre purple-red fur and elegant steps, emerged, walking like a human being.


    "I never expected this, the old master actually left a seed of Demon Fire in the miss''s body and hid her in this Demon-Suppressing Hall. If I can find her first, it''ll be a great aplishment,"


    "However, there''s a high chance I''ll encounter Baldy monks in this Demon-Suppressing Hall, so I better be careful,"


    Bathed in blue lightning, the purple leopard looked around vigntly, then its figure shed like lightning and disappeared in an instant.

 Chapter 51 Samadhi Demonic Fire

    Demon-Suppressing Hall, the night was deep.


    The Little Witchy quietly resting on one side, stealthily opening her eyes to nce at Jiang Liu and Daoji, who sat cross-legged in meditation beside her.


    Having been by the sides of these two bald monks for several days, they all seemed to be getting familiar with each other. As a result, the Little Witch could distinctly feel that in recent days, the surveince from the bald monk had almostpletely vanished.


    At first, the Little Witch even thought it was a deliberate act on their part, a test to see if she would really attempt to escape, sure that if she did, they would catch her, after all, her father had often said that bald monks were all cunning and deceitful.


    Therefore, these past few days the Little Witch had been patiently abiding, exhibiting not a single act of misconduct.


    But after observing them closely for a few days, she realized that the monks seemed to have genuinely stopped watching her. Stay updated through empire


    Without a sound, the Little Witch got up and tiptoed away towards the distance.


    After several days of observation, the Little Witch was ready to test the waters. If they called out to her, she would say she was just stepping away for a moment...


    ncing back three steps at a time, she looked to see if Jiang Liu had opened his eyes, but even as she moved much farther away, out of sight, they didn''te after her.


    This delighted the Little Witch''s heart. Could it really be? Was she now free to escape?


    She started to run, feeling a sudden lightness wash over her.


    This was the feeling of freedom; it meant that she could go wherever she wished.


    However, after just a few steps, the Little Witch''s stomach started to grumble.


    Stopping in her tracks, she rubbed her little belly, feeling hungry, and reflexively thought of the food that Jiang Liu had prepared for her these past days, the very delicious food.


    "Do I really want to leave? These days of interaction didn''t seem to show that they intended to harm me. Could they actually be the good people of legend? Laughable, good people. If I leave now, does that mean I''ll never again taste such delicious barbecue?"


    "No, I must leave. Though delicious, freedom is of higher value. Indeed, monks must be deceitful, using grilled meat to tempt me, so I won''t leave them? But he underestimates me. For the sake of freedom, what does even the most delicious grilled meat matter?"


    ...


    "Elder brother, she has been gone for quite a while. Aren''t you afraid that she''s already escaped?" On the other side, Daoji, who had been closing his eyes, suddenly opened them and softly questioned Jiang Liu.


    Although the Little Witch seemed easy to deceive, she still possessed a Demon General Level of cultivation, so Daoji was naturally a bit on guard in front of her. Therefore, he had noticed the Little Witch''s departure.


    "Even though I wish to convert her, if I were to pressure her with a stern demeanor, how would she ever convert sincerely? Buddha brings salvation to those with fate. If she returns, that means there is still a thread of chance. But if she leaves, then perhaps the fate has ended," Jiang Liu opened his eyes and answered calmly, an inscrutable look on his face.


    What a load of nonsense, Jiang Liu himself clearly understood all his talk was nothing but ther.


    What fate? It was all just an excuse. He had kept the Little Witch by his side only because he wanted her to help him level up more quickly inbat.


    Now that he confirmed they couldn''t team up, Jiang Liu naturally had no intention of keeping her. As the saying goes, high riskes with high reward, but now there was only high risk and no reward.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t defeat her, Jiang Liu might have already driven her away.


    After waiting for three days, deliberately not restricting her movement, thankfully she had finally left.


    "Amitabha, elder brother is truly wise, I admire you!" Daoji bowed deeply, feeling that following Jiang Liu these days had been greatly beneficial.


    He took Jiang Liu''s words to heart, and thinking back to when Jiang Liu himself had wanted to leave the monkhood, yet their master kept him at the Great Buddha Temple without using force, he thought that this approach shared a mysterious simrity with Master Longhai.


    "Daoji, are you really that easy to fool?" Watching Daoji genuflect with sincere admiration, Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched slightly. Perhaps his skill in smooth talking was maxed out?


    Amid his surprise, Jiang Liu secretly shook his head, figuring it must be his identity as someone with twelve incense scars that made people so convincing, right?


    It somewhat resembled a celebrity quote, the same words spoken by an ordinary person versus someone of status are perceived entirely differently.


    Mentally criticizing the situation, Jiang Liu remained impassive on the surface, nodded slightly, and continued to meditate in ce of sleeping, feeling a long sigh of relief that he could now sleep soundly in the future.


    Tap tap tap!


    However, just as Jiang Liu had this thought, suddenly, a series of footsteps became audible, startlingly clear in the quiet night.


    Opening his eyes, he could just make out a little girl about four or five years old walking back ¡ª if not the Little Witch, then who?


    "She, she''s back? Does she not want to leave?" Seeing the Little Witch who had returned, Jiang Liu was dumbfounded.


    "Senior brother is indeed impressive, I admire you so much I''m bowing down in respect," at the same time, Daoji''s voice sounded softly from nearby, his face full of admiration as he looked at Jiang Liu, almost like a fervent fan.


    Jiang Liu: "..."


    "Jiang Liu, did you fall asleep? I''m getting a bit hungry, do you still have any roasted meat?" Approaching Jiang Liu, the Little Witch asked softly.


    As if to prove her point, her stomach growled loudly.


    "Senior brother, speaking of roasted meat, I''m feeling a little hungry too," Daoji chimed in from the side, his eyes shining.


    In just a few days, Daoji had gone from initially resisting roasted meat to bing a monk who couldn''t be happy without it.


    "Enough, you are going to make eatingte-night snacks a habit..." Observing the Little Witch and Daoji, Jiang Liu''s face darkened a bit and he stopped cultivating to prepare to take the roasted meat out from his storage space.


    "Miss, so you were here. What a challenge to find you..."


    However, at this moment, suddenly, a somewhat sinister voice rang out.


    At the same time, within the pitch-dark Demon-Suppressing Hall, one could see shes of blue electric light twinkling continuously.


    Following the sound, Jiang Liu and the others saw a tall figure stepping forward within the blue electric light.


    As this figure approached, they realized it was an upright walking leopard adorned with electric light on its purple fur.


    "Able tomand the power of spells? A Demon General Level demon creature!?" Seeing the blue electric light around the leopard, a sinking feeling washed over Jiang Liu.


    "Miss, the old master nted the seed of the Samadhi Demonic Fire within you, shouldn''t you return it now? A new king has ascended to the throne, and it won''t do without the Samadhi Demonic Fire..." The Electric Light Leopard said to the Little Witch, grinning and showing its sharp fangs.


    "Senior brother, let''s leave," upon seeing the leopard that was clearly of a Demon General''s cultivation level, Daoji said softly.


    Fighting within the demon''s den, where the demon creatures are terrifyingly strong, it was not worth risking their lives to get involved.


    Jiang Liu nodded in agreement, the Little Witch herself had a cultivation level of a Demon General, likely more than able to handle the situation, and since they couldn''t join forces, there wasn''t much to be gained by staying.


    When the risk didn''t match the reward, leaving was obviously the better choice.


    However, as the two of them moved, the Electric Light Leopard''s gaze swept toward them.


    "Eh? There are two Little Monks here too!? Sssh, nine incense scars!?"

 Chapter 52 Subduing the Demon

    The two Demon Generals seemed poised toe to blows, yet Jiang Liu and Daoji had no intention of intervening, preparing to retreat quietly, but the gaze of the Electric Light Leopard had locked onto them both.


    Jiang Liu was fine, with the Vidyaraja Crown on his head preventing his Scar of Precepts from being seen, but the nine Scars of Precepts on Daoji''s head were distinctly visible.


    "Excuse us, we''re just passing by and have no intention of getting involved in your dispute, we''ll be on our way..." Daoji''s face managed a forced smile as he slowly backed away, wanting to leave.


    "Nine Scars of Precepts? Just like that old baldy Longhai?" The Electric Light Leopard spoke with a weighty tone, its attention firmly on the Scars of Precepts atop Daoji''s head.


    Always oppressed by the Demon-Suppressing Hall, Longhai''s formidable reputation posed a massive deterrence to the Demon Cave. Witnessing the nine Scars of Precepts on Daoji''s head, the Electric Light Leopard''s killing intent surged.


    This Little Monk¡ªif he were to grow in strength¡ªit would pose yet another fearsome threat to the Demon Cave.


    The Little Witch, although not the brightest, was certainly not dumb. Recognizing that the Electric Light Leopard meant ill, and seemingly also intimidated by the nine Scars of Precepts on Daoji''s head, blurted out a telling piece of information, "Hmph, although his nine Scars of Precepts are formidable, Brother Xuanzang has twelve, even more impressive! Aren''t you leaving yet?


    Aren''t you afraid he''ll convert you, making you turn over a new leaf?"


    "Twelve Scars of Precepts!?" Indeed, upon hearing the Little Witch''s words, the Electric Light Leopard looked at Jiang Liu in horror, and hearing the word "convert," it reflexively stepped back, viewing Jiang Liu with the same trepidation a person might view a fearsome flood or beast.


    An ordinary Cultivator''s greatest fear in cultivation was the Heart Demon, which could have unforeseeable consequences and even invert one''s character.


    And for the demons of the Demon Cave, a monk was akin to a walking Heart Demon.


    A monk with twelve Scars of Precepts? Wouldn''t that be the epitome of a Heart Demon?


    "I''m doomed..." Listening to the Little Witch''s boastful words, hoping to use his identity to scare away the Electric Light Leopard, Jiang Liu internally rolled his eyes.


    "You two bald donkeys, nine fragrance scars and twelve fragrance scars? No matter what, you must die today!"


    Though also harboring some fear, the Electric Light Leopard''s eyes brimmed with killing intent at the thought they were still just young Little Monks. At the same time, crackles of lightning began to gather on its ws.


    "No choice now, let''s take action!" At this point, any further words were superfluous. Jiang Liu raised his hand, and the Demon Subduing Staff appeared in his grasp.


    Daoji too wasted no words, extending a finger as a lotus bloomed at its tip. In an instant, his Finger Force transformed into a whip-like ray that shot out.


    If this battle was inevitable, then they had to strike first.


    The streak of Finger Force that struck the Electric Light Leopard caused the surrounding electric light to flicker momentarily, and that was it.


    Having taken Daoji''s Lotus Finger Power head-on, the Electric Light Leopard appearedpletely undamaged.


    "Terrifying, utterly ineffective?" Unlike others, due to being in a party, Jiang Liu saw more clearly that the Electric Light Leopard''s Health Bar over its head had only decreased by a mere fraction; someone less attentive would hardly notice it.


    "Let''s kill one first!" Perhaps because Daoji acted first, attracting its attention, the Electric Light Leopard moved as fast as lightning. A flicker in mid-air, and it seemed almost to teleport in front of Daoji, its ws striking straight toward Daoji''s chest.


    "Vajra Mantra!" Seeing that Daoji had no chance to dodge, Jiang Liu reacted swiftly, instantly casting the Vajra Mantra skill towards Daoji.


    An invisible Vajra Power instantly protected Daoji, boosting his defense ability.


    Vajra Mantra (Primary Level): Summons the mysterious Vajra Power to protect an ally, mitigating the next instance of damage by 80%, with a cooldown time of 50 seconds.


    With a thud, Daoji was sent flying, coughing up a mouthful of blood mid-air.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, Daoji''s Health Bar instantly dropped by about one-third.


    "Hiss..." Witnessing this, Jiang Liu inhaled sharply.


    Just how terrifyingly strong was this Electric Light Leopard? Even with the Vajra Mantra averting 80% of the damage, Daoji''s Health Bar had still plummeted by a third. Without the Vajra Mantra''s protection, would Daoji have been annihted instantly? Discover hidden tales at empire


    "Although I don''t know why you want to kill me, you can go die!" The Little Witch also spoke up, evidently recognizing the Electric Light Leopard. Her delicate hand raised, she flung a pitch-ck fireball towards the Electric Light Leopard.


    Facing Daoji''s Lotus Finger Power, this Electric Light Leopard could endure without dodging, but when faced with the ck mes of the Little Witch, it was extremely wary and hastily retreated to dodge them.


    Turning its head back, the Electric Light Leopard''s eyes were filled with astonishment and gravity, "You, you can already control the Samadhi Demonic Fire? Is this the talent of an Innate Taoist Body?"


    "Guanyin Mantra," "Arhat Fist," "Swift Fire Bead"¡­


    Since they had engaged inbat, Jiang Liu naturally acted quickly. Seeing that Daoji was hurt, he first cast the Guanyin Mantra to heal him with the effect of a 10% maximum life value restoration, which wasn''t particrly strong but had some effect.


    Then, he augmented his own attack power with Arhat Fist and transformed the Swift Fire Bead into a basin-sized ball of me, hurling it towards the Electric Light Leopard.


    The Swift Fire Bead skill at Great Perfection, boosted by the attack power of Arhat Fist and the Demon Subduing Staff, especially since the Demon Subduing Staff had an additional 30% damage to demon-type creatures, and doubled damage from the Redwood Ring¡­


    With so many enhancements, the attack power of this Swift Fire Bead fireball was very formidable.


    Taking advantage of the Electric Light Leopard''s attention being drawn by the Little Witch''s so-called Samadhi Demonic Fire, the fireball struck the leopard directly.


    The st of firelight was visible to the naked eye, and the health bar above the Electric Light Leopard''s head went down¡­


    About 3%.


    "Are you kidding me? Even if it were at the level of a Demon General in cultivation, it couldn''t possibly be this monstrous, right?" The mere 3% drop in health points, a mere trifle, was enough to induce despair.


    "It seems that the main effort of the attack can only be ced on the Little Witch now, our attacks seem to be no more bothersome to it than a tickle."


    His strongest attack causing only such minor damage, Jiang Liu could only pin his hopes for an attack on the Little Witch.


    The Little Witch raised her hand, the ck mes continued to surge towards their target.


    Shaking its head, the Electric Light Leopard had taken Jiang Liu''s Swift Fire Bead head-on and still looked lively, but when faced with the ck Samadhi Demonic Fire, it became as evasive as a snake from venom, its body flickering with electric light, preparing to dodge again.


    "Silencing Zen!"


    It was apparent that the Electric Light Leopard''s super high-speed movement seemed to rely on the lightning powers engulfing its body, which likely belonged to a skill-based ability, hence the control ability of Silencing Zen was activated.


    The electric light dissipated.


    Under the control of Jiang Liu''s Silencing Zen skill, the silencing effect caused all the lightning around the Electric Light Leopard to vanish, and the power within its body became as stagnant as dead water at that moment.


    "What''s going on?" Suddenly losing control of its power, the Electric Light Leopard was startled.


    Though it twisted its body in an attempt to dodge, a wisp of the ck me still brushed against its wrist.


    The spot grazed by the Samadhi Demonic Fire ignited a feeble me which then rapidly spread outwards.


    Amid cries of pain, the Electric Light Leopard frantically pped at the spreading fire on its wrist to no avail, and as the fire spread, it grew more ferocious.


    Grinding its teeth, the Electric Light Leopard made a decisive move, raising its other paw to slice down without hesitation.


    With a scream, blood sttered as it chopped off its half-arm, which was engulfed in mes, and let it fall to the ground, where it soon turned to ash.


    Jiang Liu watched the health bar above the Electric Light Leopard''s head, which dropped about 20% with just that one blow¡­


    "The legendary Samadhi True Fire, evesting and not easily bearable, even by Sun Wukong. Though I''m uncertain what variant this Samadhi Demonic Fire is, if it bears the name Samadhi, it must be terrifyingly powerful. Just a graze has caused such high damage?"


    Observing the change in the Electric Light Leopard''s health bar, Jiang Liu was both shocked and ted.

 Chapter 53 Sacrificial Strike

    It was terrifyingly strong. His most powerful attack barely decreased the Electric Light Leopard''s health by a tiny fraction, and Daoji''s attacks seemed to hardly affect its health bar at all. The strength of this creature was rming to Jiang Liu.


    A Demon General Level strength should not be this horrifying, should it? At the very least, it was among the top tier of Demon Generals.


    Fortunately, even though his own attacks were hardly effective against the Electric Light Leopard, the Little Witch''s attacks were still quite effective, especially that ck me, which the leopard avoided like the gue.


    Merely a ncing blow reduced its health bar by about 20 percent. This formidable power gave Jiang Liu hope for victory.


    Since his own attacks were not very effective, he was content to take on a supporting role. After all, in the game, a Monk''s profession was originally positioned as a support...


    Having been grazed by the Samadhi Demonic Fire once, the Electric Light Leopard became even more wary, cautiously releasing lightning attacks from a distance and showing no intention of closing in for directbat.


    Although the Little Witch could also release Samadhi Demonic Fire, it was clear from the situation that her long-range attacking skills were far inferior.


    "Vajra Mantra."


    "Silencing Zen."


    "Swift Fire Bead."


    Though Jiang Liu was content to assume a support role, skillfully alternating between Vajra Mantra and Silencing Zen at the right moments, he would not pass up an opportunity to interfere with an auxiliary attack using the Swift Fire Bead, which had a short cooldown time of only 10 seconds.


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    Though the attack didn''t cause much damage, it was better than nothing.


    Likewise, Daoji, despite his injuries, forced himself to stand and kept at a distance,unching Lotus Finger Power attacks from afar.


    Under the three-person assault, particrly the Little Witch''s greatly feared Samadhi Demonic Fire, the Electric Light Leopard, despite its strength, had its health bar slowly whittled away: 75%... 66%... 52%...


    About half an hour into the battle, the Electric Light Leopard''s health bar had finally been reduced to a dangerous quarter remaining.


    It looked miserable, and its defeat seemed only a matter of time.


    "This really feels like a BOSS fight, and we''re finally winning. Both of us are of Demon General rank, but with our support, why is it taking so long to defeat it? Is there really such a huge gap in strength between one Demon General and another?" Jiang Liu silentlyined about the BOSS-level Electric Light Leopard, while also feeling a sense of anticipation.


    Even though he and the Little Witch could not form a team, if they really managed to y this creature, based on contribution, he would still get Experience Points, and items might even drop.


    Just like that time when the Three-Eyed Crow was in by the old man with the sword


    The Swift Fire Bead, Demon Subduing Staff, and Skill Bookcase were all great treasures that dropped the first time he defeated a Demon General. Who knew what great items would drop this time?


    "Roar!" Just as the Electric Light Leopard seemed fatally wounded, all of a sudden, it let out a ferocious roar from its mouth, shattering Jiang Liu''s fantasy.


    A blood-red barrier appeared, enveloping its entire body. Boiling Demonic Qi burst from the Electric Light Leopard''s body, striking the blood-red barrier and causing it to instantly fill with cracks, as if the assault were trying to break some sort of a seal.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me? In the game, when a BOSS''s health bar drops to a certain level, they can undergo a transformation, could this be the same?" Jiang Liu secretlyined as he watched the leopard seemingly go berserk.


    The blood-red barrier, like a kind of restrain, quickly showed cracks under the impact of the strong Demonic Qi and then shattered into pieces.


    As the blood-red barrier copsed, the Electric Light Leopard''s appearance also underwent a major change...


    Initially, although the leopard walked upright like a human, it was covered in fur from head to toe and looked much like a regr leopard when on all fours.


    But now, the leopard''s appearance changed drastically.


    While its head remained the same, its body had transformed into that of a human. Even its sharp ws had turned into human hands, clutching a Leopard Tail Whip...


    "This guy, has it turned into a human?" Jiang Liu wondered in shock as he saw the Electric Light Leopard''s transformation; it was his first time seeing such a form of a demon.


    "A beast with a human body, it''s almost cultivated into a human! Has it broken through to the Demon Marshal realm? But aren''t there supposed to be no Demon Marshal level creatures in the Demon-Suppressing Hall?" Daoji, seeing the transformation of the Electric Light Leopard, was equally astonished and eximed.


    "Demon Marshal?" Hearing Daoji''s cry, Jiang Liu''s heart sank.


    That''s a creature above level 40! Please, he was only level 13, and the disparity in strength was as vast as the chasm between heaven and earth.


    "Laozi was originally a Demon Marshal. How could I have entered the Demon-Suppressing Hall without sealing my own Cultivation Level? Today, you all must die!" Hearing Daoji''s cry of rm, the heavily injured Electric Light Leopard roared, its eyes revealing a fierce light.


    "Hey, don''t you recognize it? Didn''t you know it has the strength of a Demon Marshal?" Jiang Liu turned and asked the Little Witch.


    "I knew, but you never asked me," the Little Witch said with a look of grievance.


    "Brother, with the appearance of a Demon Marshal, the rm of the Demon-Suppressing Hall must be triggered. Someone wille to rescue us soon," Daoji said to console Jiang Liu, his voice showing how serious the situation was.


    "You''re not wrong, but, to wait for someone to rescue us, we also need time, right? Will this monster give us that much time?" Jiang Liu said, his face showing little joy at the thought.


    Indeed, the Electric Light Leopard, knowing full well how to seal its own power to enter the Demon-Suppressing Hall, also knew the consequences of unsealing it.


    Now cornered, it didn''t waste any time after releasing its sealed power, attacking with full force.


    With a flick of its Leopard Tail Whip, itshed viciously toward the Little Witch, and twisted its body, moving so fast it was akin to teleportation. The Little Witch''s Samadhi Demonic Fire might be strong, but it was useless if it couldn''t hit its target.


    With a smack, the whip struck the Little Witch, who screamed and was sent flying.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, the Little Witch''s health bar, previously around 60%, plummeted drastically to about 30% in an instant.


    After one blow hadnded, the Leopard Tail Whip was raised again, striking like a Spirit Snake towards the Little Witch''s flying body.


    Rustle!


    Daoji''s Chant Beads flew out, intelligently wrapping around the Electric Light Leopard, binding it tightly.


    However, with a powerful struggle, the Chant Beads binding it snapped instantly, breaking into numerous Buddha Beads scattered on the ground.


    The Leopard Tail Whip struck the Little Witch again, sending her tumbling to the ground, unable to move.


    This strike was obviously less forceful, so it didn''t deplete her health barpletely, leaving about 5% left.


    The Electric Light Leopard hadn''t forgotten that its target was the seed of the Samadhi Demonic Fire; if the person died, it wouldn''t be able to retrieve it.


    After neutralizing the threat of the Little Witch, the Electric Light Leopard turned its gaze to Jiang Liu and Daoji; now was the perfect opportunity to eliminate these two Little Monks.


    Its figure was like lightning, appearing before Jiang Liu in the blink of an eye, not wasting words. The Demon Whip was like a dragon, striking toward Jiang Liu''s chest.


    "Vajra Mantra!" Startled and retreating, Jiang Liu once again fortified himself with the defense of the Vajra Mantra.


    With a bang, Jiang Liu was sent flying, feeling as if he had been hit by a train; his internal organs all shook violently.


    A mouthful of fresh blood spewed out, and arge dent formed in his chest; clearly, several bones there had been broken.


    His health bar, which was nearly full, suddenly dropped to around 10%.


    The Vajra Mantra mitigated 80% of the damage, andbined with the defense of the Vidyaraja Crown, he was nearly instant-killed ¨C the attack power of this Demon Marshal was terrifying indeed.


    "Eh? Not dead?" The Electric Light Leopard was surprised to see Jiang Liu still alive.


    But it was no matter; another strike would finish the job. It raised its Leopard Tail Whip again, continuing to fall.


    This whip, if itnded, meant certain death!


    Boom!


    Just then, suddenly, a powerful aura erupted. Blood-red power surged from Daoji''s body, as if he was a blood-soaked deity.


    Wielding the Arhat Mace, Daoji charged toward the Electric Light Leopard with a resolve to die.


    The Arhat Mace''s effect took hold: Sacrificial Strike!

 Chapter 54 The Good Guy Card

    Sacrificial Strike was a skill that came with the Arhat Mace Jiang Liu gave Daoji, consuming one''s own Health Point to boost the Attack Power, simply put, it was a move that hurt the enemy severely at a great cost to oneself.


    Seeing Jiang Liu gravely injured and about to be killed, Daoji couldn''t care less and immediatelyunched the attack.


    The formidable power burst forth, blood evaporated into a mist of crimson, resembling a blood-soaked demon god, and mmed fiercely into the Electric Light Leopard.


    With an increase of 800% in Attack Power, Daoji''s strike was earth-shattering.


    Even the Electric Light Leopard, with its Demon Marshal Level Cultivation, was savagely thrown away, struggling to rise from the ground but failing twice in its attempts.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, the Electric Light Leopard, which already had only about 20% of its Health Points remaining, now looked even more pitiful after the attack, with arge chunk of its health bar missing, barely hanging on by a sliver.


    Inside the Demon-Suppressing Hall at that moment, both the men and demons were gravely wounded and on the brink of death.


    The Little Witch had only 5% of her Health Points left, seemingly could be killed with just one more attack. Stay updated through empire


    The Health Points of the Electric Light Leopard seemed not much different from that of the Little Witch, just a shred of Health Points remaining, nearly killed by Daoji''s Sacrificial Strike.


    Jiang Liu''s chest was severely caved in, and the health bar above his head was also left with about 10%, hardly able to move.


    As for Daoji? Already injured, he fell unconscious on the ground after using the Sacrificial Strike, with only a sliver of Health Points remaining above his head.


    Struggling twice and failing to rise, the Electric Light Leopard felt a crushing despair, knowing its death was inevitable.


    It wouldn''t be long before an even stronger monk would be alerted by his Demon Marshal Cultivation and enter the area.


    At this moment, the Electric Light Leopard regretted the situation, if it had known this monk would fight to the death, it wouldn''t have stayed to kill them both; it would have been better to take the subdued target back to the Demon Cave right away.


    However, despite feeling desperate, the Electric Light Leopard was driven by a fierce will to survive, even in death, it wanted to take the two little monks down with him.


    These two little monks had so many Precepts Scars on their heads, even in death, pulling them down with him didn''t seem like a loss.


    Unable to stand anymore, the Electric Light Leopard simply didn''t try to rise, slowly raising its hand, channeling thest of its strength as electricity gathered at its fingertips.


    Watching the Electric Light Leopard''s fingers pointing at him, as electricity gathered there, Jiang Liu''s heart sank.


    He too was unable to move,pletely powerless to dodge.


    "Guanyin Mantra!" But at that moment, Jiang Liu noticed that the Guanyin Mantra, with a cooldown time of 600 seconds, was ready again.


    Without any unnecessary words, he cast the skill directly on the Little Witch.


    Although a 10% recovery of the maximum Life Value wasn''t very strong, in their current critical state, every little bit of recovery was precious.


    As the Guanyin Mantra skill activated, visibly, the Little Witch''s remaining 5% of Health Points on her health bar instantly recovered a small portion.


    "Silencing Zen!" After giving the Little Witch a Guanyin Mantra, Jiang Liu followed it up with a Silencing Zen skill on the Electric Light Leopard, causing the electricity gathering at its fingertips to scatter instantly into nothingness.


    Having slightly recovered her injuries, although the Little Witch was still severely wounded, she was capable of taking action.


    Looking at the Electric Light Leopard that alsoy on the ground unable to move, the Little Witch raised her hand and a pitch-ck me ignited, flying towards the Electric Light Leopard.


    Although the me was weak, being only the size of a soybean, itnded on the Electric Light Leopard and spread out rapidly.


    With only a sliver of Health Points left, the Electric Light Leopard could only watch helplessly as the me spread, engulfing itpletely, its screams echoing as it turned to a charred corpse.


    The died Electric Light Leopard also reverted back to its original leopard form.


    Notification: Gained 1680 Experience Points.


    As the Electric Light Leopard was killed, the game system''s notification sounded.


    Indeed, because he could not form a team, the death of the Demon Marshal only yielded a mere 1600 Experience Points.


    You should know, that standing human-like and injured Wolf Demon had given himself a full 2800 Experience Points.


    However, surviving was already good enough, and Jiang Liu didn''t expect too much. He took out a Healing Potion from his inventory and gulped it down; a warm power circted within his body, and his injuries immediately recovered partially.


    Barely standing up, Jiang Liu walked over to the Electric Light Leopard''s corpse and rummaged through it.


    Sure enough, under the corpse were some items: there was Equipment, Skill Books, and Potions.


    Equipment from monsters he killed, or those killed by a team, would automatically appear in the inventory space.


    However, for monsters killed by others, Experience Points were distributed based on Contribution Points, and the dropped items would appear under the corpse, belonging to whoever picked them up.


    With just a nce, the attributes of these dropped items appeared in front of Jiang Liu.


    Enhanced Healing Potion: On consumption, instantly restores 20% of maximum Life Value. Potion cooldown time 60 seconds.


    Mana Potion: On consumption, restores 10% of maximum Mana. Potion cooldown time 60 seconds.


    Golden Cicada Buddha Robe (Perfect Quality): Required level 15, Defense +400, Passive Skill (Golden Cicada''s Shedding): When sustaining a fatal attack, transfers the damage to the Buddha Robe, consuming Durability 5, Durability 14/15.


    "Demon-Subduing Mantra," a Monk ss Skill Book, required level 15.


    Azure Crown (Fine Quality): Required level 20, Defense +220, Passive Skill (Salvation of All Beings): Consumes 10% of user''s max Life Value to restore 20% of target''s max Life Value, Cooldown Time 60 seconds, Durability 18/20.


    As expected of a Demon Marshal level monster, the dropped items were plentiful indeed, including a Potion, a Skill Book, and two pieces of Equipment.


    Without wasting words, Jiang Liu raised his hand and collected all these items into his inventory space.


    Just then, he faintly heard the distant sound of Zen chanting; it seemed the rescue from the Great Buddha Temple''s high monks had arrived.


    From the moment the Electric Light Leopard exhibited the power of a Demon Marshal until its death, although many things had happened, it all urred in little more than about two minutes; the arrival of the high monks from the Great Buddha Temple was indeed quite swift.


    However, looking at the Little Witch struggling to stand up, yet wobbling unsteadily, Jiang Liu hesitated for a moment before tossing over the newly acquired Enhanced Healing Potion from his inventory space.


    "Drink it and go quickly. If you don''t leave now, once other high monks arrive, you won''t be able to escape."


    Taking the Enhanced Healing Potion Jiang Liu had tossed to her, the Little Witch looked deeply at him, did not hesitate, and drank all of the potion.


    Instantly, her injuries recovered further, and her Health Bar also returned to about 35%.


    Though still injured, her movements were not greatly affected anymore.


    "Brother Xuanzang, you really are a good person," feeling her injuries healing, the Little Witch said to Jiang Liu.


    "Don''t. In our homnd, being given a ''good person card'' is like being pitied; it''s almost like cursing or insulting someone," receiving a ''good person card'' from the Little Witch, Jiang Liu said somewhat irritably.


    As the sound of Zen chanting drew closer, the Little Witch suddenly grinned mischievously, turned, and ran off, but her voice carried from afar.


    "That''s really amusing. In our Demon Cave, it''s also a way of cursing or insulting, hee hee hee..."


    "That''s why I say, bratty kids are so annoying," having spent a few days together, it was the first time he saw the Little Witch''s mischievous behavior, Jiang Liu silently shook his head.


    Of course, Jiang Liu understood that after this battle, the Little Witch hadpletely let go of her wariness towards him, which is why she behaved this way.


    Not long after the Little Witch left, the Buddhist Light shone resplendently, supreme and fiery.


    Saint Monk Longhai personally appeared in front of Jiang Liu...

 Chapter 55 Speaking of the Demon Clan

    ```


    Hint: Gained 2 Experience Points.


    Hint: Gained 2 Experience Points.


    Hint: Gained 2 Experience Points.


    ...


    Sitting cross-legged, Jiang Liu silently cultivated the secondyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique, with system prompts continuously appearing, gaining Experience Points at a speed exactly double.


    The firstyer of the technique only yielded 1 Experience Point every 10 seconds.


    Having reached level 13, Jiang Liu had exactly 2 Skill Points left, and he used them to learn the secondyer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    For Jiang Liu, on days he wasn''t leveling up through battle, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound allowed him to gain roughly 700 Experience Points per hour, which he considered not bad at all.


    Ever since the life-and-death crisis in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, he and Daoji, wounded, had been taken away by the Saint Monk Longhai. In the blink of an eye, three days had already passed.


    As the sun rose high, Jiang Liu stopped cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound and got up to wash and eat breakfast in the dining hall.


    Along the way, countless disciples greeted Jiang Liu with a bow. None doubted his identity as a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, with the twelve scars of a Buddhist disciple.


    Entering the dining hall, Jiang Liu scanned the room and soon spotted Daoji and the Saint Monk Longhai eating together.


    The master and disciple sat facing each other, seemingly engaged in conversation. Jiang Liu got himself a bowl of porridge and two vegetable buns and went over to them.


    "Not bad, it looks like your injuries have mostly recovered," Jiang Liu observed Daoji''s rosy cheeks, which bore no sign of injury, and nodded in approval.


    "Brother, you''ve arrived just in time..."


    After their shared ordeal in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, Daoji''s bond with Jiang Liu had deepened, "Just now, Master mentioned that recently around Chang''an City, the evil spirits have be more active. He ns to arrange for us disciples from the Great Buddha Temple to go and subdue demons and eliminate evil, to save themon people."


    During these three days spent cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound in the Great Buddha Temple, hearing that he could now leave to battle and level up brightened Jiang Liu''s eyes, and he turned to look at the Saint Monk Longhai.


    The Saint Monk Longhai wasn''t surprised by Jiang Liu''s eagerness for battle and nodded slightly, "Xuanzang, your timing is perfect. Two hundred li to the west of Chang''an, there is arge river where a King of Flood Dragon stirs the waters, and three hundred li to the east lies Foutu Mountain, home to the Blood Tiger King that roars over the forests.


    The friction between these two Great Demons has been escting, causing demons to rampage widely and harming many people within several hundred li. Therefore, the Emperor of Tang has summoned cultivators from across thend for subduing demons and eliminating evil..."


    Demon King!?


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu inwardly gasped.


    Even creatures of Demon General Level were difficult to handle, let alone those of Demon Marshal Level? Previously, the severely wounded Demon Marshal, the Electric Light Leopard, from the Demon-Suppressing Hall had almost led to hisplete defeat.


    And now there existed Demon Kings?


    He had already encountered demons at Jinshan Temple, more than one, in fact.


    Although Jiang Liu knew that in the primitive world of ancient times, there were many wild animals and fierce beasts, and thus, many demons as well, he hadn''t expected that within the territory of Great Tang, separated by merely about five hundred li, there would be two Great Demons. Moreover, one to the east and one to the west, with Chang''an City in the middle?


    "Holy Monk, are there many demons within the border of Great Tang?" Jiang Liu, amazed, realized he hadn''t properly understood the situation within Great Tang and promptly asked.


    "Our Great Tang is a supreme nation under Heaven. Though there are many demons, there are even more cultivators, more than enough to suppress countless demons. It is not a concern. Outside of Great Tang, those remote small countries are in a more difficult situation.


    Some of them don''t even have imperial families, or they are overtly or covertly controlled by demons; themon people live in extreme distress..." In response to Jiang Liu''s question, the Saint Monk Longhai naturally did not hold back.


    This exnation made Jiang Liu nod silently to himself.


    ```


    ```


    Not to mention other things, just looking at the situation in "Journey to the West", the three demons of tiger, deer, and sheep became state preceptors, the Yellow-Robed Monster kidnapped a princess of a nation, some kings were pushed into wells and demons took their thrones, and the Lion Camel Kingdom was a gathering of countless demons, truly a demon-infested realm¡­


    In these countries, even emperors struggled to protect themselves from the rampant demons, as one can see.


    "Since the cultivators within the borders of Great Tang are sufficient to suppress demons, why not exterminate thempletely and create a peaceful and just world for themon people?" With doubts in his mind, Jiang Liu followed up with a question.


    "Dayu controlled the waters not by blocking but by channeling. Xuanzang, where do you think these demonse from?" With a low utterance of a Buddhist chant, Saint Monk Longhai countered with a question.


    "Mountain spirits, wild monsters, nts, and even jade and refined iron, after absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, transform into demons, right?" After some thought, Jiang Liu gained some enlightenment and replied.


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    "Indeed, everything under heaven and earth can be a demon, whether it be animals in the mountains or trees. Tell me, how could one possibly exterminate them all?"


    "Could it be that all trees must be cut down, all animals ughtered?"


    Saint Monk Longhai shook his head slightly and exined, "When these demon creatures are just born, if not restrained, they cause greater harm to themon people."


    "So, the Emperor of Tang intentionally left certain great demons alive, allowing these demons to control their lesser kind, thereby secretly managing the Demon n?" Daoji, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but exim in a low voice.


    For him, the existence of demons throughout the world being intentionally preserved by the Emperor of Tang was indeed a shocking truth.


    "Correct. Everything under heaven can be a demon. If these demons are born without control, they cause greater harm to themon people.


    Since the Demon n cannot bepletely eradicated, to some extent, using demons to govern demons is indeed the best method," Jiang Liu said, butpared to Daoji''s shock,ing from a modern society of information overload, Jiang Liu could understand this approach much better.


    "Indeed, rare is it for you, Xuanzang, to have such insight. As long as we can control the Demon Kings of the ten directions, and they, in turn, control their respective hordes of demons, these demons won''t be able to stir up much trouble."


    "However, the recent strife between the King of Flood Dragons and the Tiger King has intensified, causing great harm to themon people. Therefore, the Emperor of Tang decreed a campaign to subdue demons and eliminate evil," said Saint Monk Longhai, nodding with satisfaction as Jiang Liu quickly grasped the true nature of the situation.


    Jiang Liu also indicated his understanding with a silent nod.


    To put it simply, the Emperor of Tang could allow the existence of the Demon n within Great Tang''s territory since they could not be eradicated. So long as boundaries were set and the Demon Kings could control their underlings without causing excessive harm to the people, that would suffice.


    However, the conflict between the two great Demon Kings had now crossed the Emperor''s line, hence the initiative to subdue demons and eliminate evil.


    When Jiang Liu had previously asked Saint Monk Longhai to take him to the Imperial Pce to see Princess Gaoyang and meet Emperor Li Shimin, Saint Monk Longhai had broached the topic of the friction between the King of Flood Dragons and the Tiger King, wanting to discuss countermeasures with the Emperor.


    Jiang Liu had thought it was merely a pretext for him to enter the pce, but now it seemed the issue was real.


    With a slight hint, Jiang Liu could grasp the truth behind this issue, and Saint Monk Longhai nodded to himself. Such wisdom was difficult for ordinary people to reach.


    Only, observing Daoji next to him, with a face full of shock, clearly startled by this truth, Saint Monk Longhai felt somewhat disappointed.


    But perhaps this was the reaction normal people should have?


    To an ordinary disciple, such truths would not be discussed openly, but Jiang Liu and Daoji, who were bound to be leaders of the Buddhist Sect, would inevitablye into contact with these matters sooner orter.


    "Alright, you two get ready. Tomorrow, the disciples of the Great Buddha Temple will be led by Brother Fanhai on a mission to subdue demons and eliminate evil..."


    This shocking truth was something Daoji had to digest andprehend on his own time. Having more or less exined everything necessary, Saint Monk Longhai gave a final reminder and left.


    Meanwhile, in the Great Tang Imperial Pce.


    Dressed as a heroine, the spirited Princess Gaoyang came before Li Shimin.


    "Father, with demons causing chaos, as a member of the imperial family, your daughter wishes to be the vanguard in subduing demons and eliminating evil, to save the people from peril," she stated.


    ```

 Chapter 56 Flight

    Bowing his head, Jiang Liu sipped his porridge and nibbled on his vegetable bun, remaining silent.


    Daoji merely sat in a daze, evidently feeling that his worldview had been greatly shaken by the situation between the Demon n within the borders of the Great Tang and the Emperor of Tang.


    In Daoji''s mind, he had always thought that the Demon n and the Human n were irreconcble enemies, nearly always engaging in a fight to the death upon meeting, yet he hadn''t expected the truth to be like this, that the Emperor of Tang wanted to keep some Great Demons to restrain the other demons.


    "Brother, do you think what''s being done is right?" After a long silence, Daoji''s gaze fell on Jiang Liu, hoping to find an answer from him.


    "There''s no absolute right or wrong," Jiang Liu silently sighed upon hearing Daoji''s inquiry, thinking it seemed he would have to give him some proper guidance. Well, what could he do? wasn''t he the elder brother?


    "Setting aside whether the method is right or wrong for now, let''s look at the situation. Just as Saint Monk Longhai mentioned, at leastpared to other small countries on the border, the people within the Great Tang do live and work in peace and contentment. If the oue is good and doesn''t harm others'' interests, there is nothing wrong with it..."


    This made Daoji lower his head in thought. It was only after some time that he looked up and said, "So, that day in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, you let the Little Witch go on purpose, Brother? Were you thinking of doing the same as the Emperor of Tang, using the Little Witch to control the situation in the Demon Cave?"


    "He knew that I had intentionally let the Little Witch go?" Daoji''s words secretly rmed Jiang Liu.


    He had thought Daoji waspletely unconscious at the time but hadn''t expected that he was still somewhat aware.


    However, since Daoji hade up with his own story, Jiang Liu kept a straight face and nodded slightly along with Daoji''s words, "Indeed, the Little Witch possesses the Samadhi Demonic Fire and she may very well return to the Demon Cave and take the Demon King''s throne. In time, with our rtionship, she might y some role, no matter how small."


    "Amitabha, Brother, your foresight and strategy are truly admirable. I am utterly convinced!" Daoji said, looking up to Jiang Liu with sincere admiration.


    The days he had spent with Jiang Liu, everything he had seen and learned, made him feel that Jiang Liu was unfathomably profound, to the point that Daoji had turned into an adoring fanboy.


    "By the way, we''re setting off to subdue demons and eliminate evil tomorrow. I have a Buddhist Treasure here, which I would like to give to you..." Jiang Liu ced his palm behind himself and then drew it forth, his hand now holding a beautifully crafted monk''s hat, the Azure Crown they had obtained from the Electric Light Leopard.


    Although the Fine Level quality was decent, for Jiang Liu who already possessed the Vidyaraja Crown, this piece of equipment was now useless.


    And since it required level 20 to equip, in Jiang Liu''s view, giving it to Daoji could not be more appropriate.


    Isn''t Daoji about to break through to the Body Tempering Realm? From a level perspective, the Body Tempering Realm corresponds to being above level 20, right?


    "Ah? You''re giving me another Buddhist Treasure?" Daoji was both surprised and delighted to see the Buddhist Treasure Jiang Liu had brought out, recalling how just a few days ago, in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, he had received an Arhat Mace from him.


    "Do you want it or not?" Seeing Daoji''s reaction, Jiang Liu didn''t beat around the bush and made as if he was going to take it back.


    "I want it, I really do. Thank you, Brother!" Even though he knew Jiang Liu was just putting on an act, Daoji quickly reached out to grab the Azure Crown.


    He looked it over joyfully, then ced it atop his head.


    As soon as he donned the Azure Crown, he could clearly feel the power contained within the Buddhist Treasure, significantly boosting his defensive abilities.


    "By the way, Brother, I saw you take that hat out from behind you. Do you have a pocket back there? Where exactly did you keep such a big hat?"


    "This..."


    "Also, ever since the time at the Demon-Suppressing Hall, I''ve felt something odd. I don''t know where you hide your Demon-Subduing Staff, but whenever you need it, you just take it out."


    "And the Arhat Mace you gave me, the potion you used to heal the little witch¡ªI''ve never seen where you stow them away either."


    "Furthermore, when I went in, I packed a bag, but the essentials for eating, dressing, and daily life ran out quickly. You clearly didn''t bring anything, so how do you still have so much?"


    ...


    Within the boundaries of Great Tang, sects stand in great numbers, including Buddhist Sects that cultivate Buddhism and Taoist Sects that cultivate Taoism. However, no matter the sect, they all belong to the citizens of the Great Tang.


    Consequently, after the Emperor of Tang made clear his intentions to subdue demons and eliminate evil, not only the Imperial Heavenly Master Hall would take action, but cultivators from other sects would also contribute, more or less.


    The next morning, Great Buddha Temple summoned eighty-one martial monks, including Jiang Liu and Daoji, to prepare for departure, personally led by Master Fanhai.


    The journey to subdue demons spanned several hundred li beyond Chang''an City, and walking on foot, one could not know how long it would take. Thus, Master Fanhai threw something with his hand, and a palm-sized boat swelled with the wind, transforming into a huge ship that appeared before everyone.


    "Wow, is this therge Dharma Treasure, the Heavenly Dragon Ship? I''ve long heard of it, but today is my first time seeing it," Daoji eximed with wide eyes, astonished.


    "Gentlemen, board the ship. With the speed of the Heavenly Dragon Ship, we will reach our destination in roughly one Chinese Hour," Master Fanhai said, nodding with a satisfied expression in response to Daoji''s amazement. He beckoned the disciples to board the ship, and once they were aboard, the giant vesselunched and soared through the skies.


    "So, it''s truly worthy of being the most powerful temple within Great Tang, isn''t it? Having such treasures for travelling..."


    Even Jiang Liu, standing at the edge of the Heavenly Dragon Ship, watched Chang''an City grow smaller and more distant, couldn''t help but feel inwardly moved.


    Although he had taken a few flights in the modern era, the experience of flying in the ancient skies aboard a Dharma Treasure was entirely different.


    "Xuanzang, Daoji, once wend, try not to stray too far from me," said Master Fanhai as he approached the two, speaking while Jiang Liu was gazing down at the rapidly retreatingndscape.


    "Although this demon-ying mission has Great Buddha Temple merely responding to the call of the Emperor of Tang, and the main force will be the Heavenly Master Hall, it is still the sh of two Great Demon Kings, and the oue is uncertain. I cannot easily exin if anything happens to any one of you..."


    "Understood," Jiang Liu and Daoji nodded in agreement.


    Elsewhere, high in the sky, a massive flying vessel, like a pce, sailed through midair, carrying cultivators of various forms.


    Some cultivators wore Taoist robes and held horsetail whisks, meditating in stillness.


    Some cultivators shouldered long swords, their stances tall and upright.


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    There were even cultivators who had set up a pill furnace, busying themselves with bottles and jars.


    Dressed in tight-fitting clothes with flying daggers at her waist and wielding a long whip, Princess Gaoyang also stood on the flying vessel, gazing at the sea of clouds on the horizon.


    "With this demon-ying mission, given Jiang Liu''s disposition, he will surely participate, right? How wonderful, I will see him again..."

 Chapter 57 Foutu Mountain

    Blossoms fell like a shower from heaven, and golden lotuses surged from the earth.


    At the Great Thunder Monastery on Spirit Mountain in the Western Heaven, the Tathagata, with His eight-foot Golden Body, sat solemnly upon the Lotus tform, with marvelous chants of Zen wisdom flowing from His lips.


    The numerous Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats seated below were spellbound, immersing themselves in the exquisite subtleties of the Buddhist Law, creating an aura of peace and majesty.


    Lost in the profundities of the Buddhist Law, unconcerned with the passage of days and months, they scarcely noticed time passing until the anomalies in the heavens and earth faded away, and the sacred chants of the Tathagata ceased as well.


    The Bodhisattvas and others of the Buddhist Realm all bowed deeply to the Golden Body of the Tathagata on the Lotus tform, and then orderly and respectfully took their leave.


    "Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, please, remain a moment," just as Guanyin was also preparing to leave, the Tathagata suddenly spoke.


    "May I ask what instructions the Buddha has for me?" Guanyin turned around, her fingers forming the gesture of holding a lotus, and asked with a serene expression.


    "Once, the Golden Cicada was reborn in the Lower Realm to embark upon the great mission of spreading the Buddhist Law to the East. He must be nearing adulthood now, correct?" said the Tathagata, the eight-foot Golden Body as stable as a mountain, His expression calm.


    "The Lower Realm has already held the Incense Offering Ceremony, and he has formally rejoined the Buddhist Sect. All preparations for spreading the Buddhist Law to the East have been made," Guanyin acknowledged with a slight nod.


    "From the Great Tang in Eastern Land, over one hundred eight thousand leagues, with treacherous mountains and rivers, and countless demons¡­" the Tathagata looked down at Guanyin as He spoke.


    "The treachery of the mountains and rivers is too much for an ordinary horse. I have prepared a White Dragon, the son of the Western Sea Dragon King, who can transform into a Dragon Horse to give him strength on his feet. As for the countless demons, I have decided on three protecting escorts, all possessed of extensive Divine Skills.


    The first is the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, the second is Marshal Tianpeng, and the third is General Juanlian..." Guanyin was well-prepared and responded smoothly.


    "Ah, furthermore, on the Journey to the West, the years are long and old. Aside from external forces like the treacherousndscape and demonic afflictions, there will also be changes within the heart. On the journey, he will encounter beautiful demons, and peerless beauties..." The Tathagata nodded slightly and then continued.


    "Amitabha Buddha, as themon saying goes, ''Once you''ve seen the vastness of the sea, shallow waters will no longer appeal; when you''ve seen the clouds over Mount Wu, ordinary clouds seem unremarkable.'' Matters of the heart are most valuable when singr. If, in this life, the Golden Cicada falls in love with a single woman, devoting his heart to her, then he would be inessible to others.


    Thus, along the path to the West, other temptresses will not easily sway his heart. I have already obtained a strand of the Red Thread from the Matchmaker God a few days ago..."


    "Well then, this is mostmendable."


    ...


    "Is that Foutu Mountain? What a massive mountain..." Aboard the Heavenly Dragon Ship, Jiang Liu gazed down at the destination of this journey, silently marveling to himself.


    By estimation, the mountain seemed almost ten thousand meters tall. In the territory of the Great Tang, the climate was generally pleasant, but due to its altitude, the peak was covered in pure white snow.


    "Let''s descend!" Having reached the territory of Foutu Mountain, Master Fanhai, controlling the Heavenly Dragon Ship, began its gradual descent.


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    After all, this demon-suppressing mission was led by the Imperial Court, and he was merely there to assist.


    As the Heavenly Dragon Ship descended, one could see many Cultivators already gathered at the base of Foutu Mountain.


    Not only the people from the Great Buddha Temple but also other sects'' Cultivators from ces such as Dragon Tiger Mountain and Zhongnan Mountain had responded to the Emperor of Tang''s Imperial Decree toe and offer their support.


    Within the borders of the Great Tang, the territory was vast, and there were many Cultivator sects and even more demon forces, but when it came to the most influential force, it naturally had to be the Great Tang Imperial Court...


    As the Heavenly Dragon Shipnded, the Cultivators below came forward to greet them. As the foremost temple of the Buddhist Sect, the fame of the Great Buddha Temple was indeed well-known throughout the Great Tang.


    Setting aside other factors, just witnessing the people from the Great Buddha Temple descending from the Heavenly Dragon Ship indicated their stature; other sects did not have such an impressive Dharma Treasure for travel.


    Master Fanhai and the surrounding cultivators had all paid their respects to each other, with many acquaintances engaging in conversations.


    Of course, disciples from other Buddhist Sects and even those from the Taoist Sect, during their conversations, had mentioned Daoji with his nine incense scars and Xuanzang with his twelve incense scars from the Incense Offering Ceremony.


    Among them, Xuanzang drew the most attention.


    A Buddhist Disciple with twelve incense scars was unprecedented; it certainly meant a reincarnation of a Western Bodhisattva.


    Furthermore, the debate between Jiang Liu and Li Chunfeng, which resulted from Saint Monk Longhai''s reward of ten thousand taels of gold, had spread far and wide. The Formless Gathaposed during that event was now treated as a Supreme Treasure by monks all over the world.


    "Master Fanhai, it is said that Master Xuanzang returned to Jinshan Temple, left behind the Formless Gatha, and then vanished without a trace. How is he faring now?" A high-ranking monk asked Master Fanhai with his hands sped together.


    Although Jiang Liu was still a young monk who had just undergone the Incense Offering Ceremony, his existence with twelve incense scars made even high-ranking Buddhist monks refer to him as "Master Xuanzang."


    "Amitabha, since his return from Jinshan Temple, Xuanzang has been in deep retreat at the Great Buddha Temple, undergoing arduous cultivation," Master Fanhai answered the inquiring monks.


    To practice in seclusion was indeed correct, and entering the Demon-Suppressing Hall counted as such a retreat. The difference was that he wasn''t cultivating Buddhist Law, but methods for Subduing Demons and Eliminating Evil.


    "I see. Upon the day Master Xuanzang emerges from seclusion, I will surely visit the Great Buddha Temple to pay my respects," the high-ranking Buddhist monk said, nodding in understanding. From Master Fanhai''s words, he clearly believed that Master Xuanzang was still in seclusion and had not emerged.


    In response to these words, a slight smile appeared on Master Fanhai''s face, and he offered no further exnation.


    Indeed, his statement was purposely ambiguous, hinting that Xuanzang was still in retreat. After all, Xuanzang''s current task to subdue demons on Foutu Mountain wasn''t something to be widely publicized.


    Not to mention what the demons would think if they learned of this news, but thepetition between the Buddhist and Taoist Sects was also something to be wary of.


    Jiang Liu stood silently behind Master Fanhai, clearly hearing these conversations. The topic would inadvertently shift to him in just a few words, allowing Jiang Liu to genuinely sense his current fame.


    Although some time had passed since the Incense Offering Ceremony, and he had been living a life of seclusion ever since, the current situation seemed to say that although the brother was not in the World, tales of his legend continued to circte in the World.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Setting aside the exchanges happening at the foot of Foutu Mountain for the moment, before long, the sound of war drums echoed from the horizon, followed by the appearance of a pce-like flying vessel, resplendent and imposing¡ªnone other than the Heavenly Master Hall of the Great Tang had arrived.


    Since their purpose was to Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil, naturally, the Heavenly Master Hall had no intentions of sneaking around. Coming with the Emperor''s Imperial Decree, why would they act covertly?


    Hence, before the flying vessel came close, the sounds of war drums announced their arrival, exuding the grandeur of royalty.


    Simrly, the flying vessel of the Heavenly Master Hall descended near Foutu Mountain, and a session of cultivators from the Heavenly Master Hall followed, disembarking from the vessel.


    Jiang Liu watched the people from the Heavenly Master Hall, his eyes suddenly brightening as he was captivated by the sight of a figure dressed in fiery red garments, with a valiant figure¡ªnone other than Princess Gaoyang.


    Equally, Jiang Liu caught Princess Gaoyang''s attention. As their gazes met, it seemed as if the surroundings faded into insignificance¡­

 Chapter 58 Tribulus Fruit

    Atop Foutu Mountain peak, the white snow nket spans vast, by a cliff''s edge, there grew an immortal herb, standing tall amidst the icy winds, swaying with the breeze.


    This immortal herb was but an inch tall, unassuming, yet atop this very herb dangled an amber-hued fruit, roughly the size of a dragon''s eye, which emitted an odd fragrance that, upon a whiff, refreshed the spirit and heart.


    What was most peculiar was that the scarlet fruit bore natural golden patterns, mysteriously forming three tiny "¼×" characters.


    Beside this tiny herb sat an old man, in repose, who appeared to be in his seventies or eighties with both hair and beard tinged blood-red, giving off a savage and fierce aura.


    The old man sat quietly by the herb, his greedy gaze frequently sweeping over the small fruit above.


    Footsteps echoed in the distance, and soon after, a demon in a white cape approached.


    This demon, with the head of a rabbit and the body of a man, had ears both pointed and long; its snow-white fur actually conveyed a sense of beauty.


    "Shuangxue, how is the situation outside?" asked the old man with the crimson hair and beard, without turning his head away from the fruit at his side.


    "Great King, not only has the King of Flood Dragon led his followers here, but the Heavenly Master Hall from Great Tang has also arrived," replied the demon Shuangxue, hesitating slightly before adding, "Forgive my candor, but after living on Foutu Mountain for so many years, we''ve never seen a Tribulus Fruit. Suddenly, one nears maturity without any precedent; I fear something is amiss."


    "Regardless of any intrigue, I am determined to have this Tribulus Fruit. Just a few more days till it matures, after consuming it, I will gain another Tribulus'' worth of longevity. With that, my cultivation level will surely advance another step, shedding my mortal coil.


    At this critical moment, no one shall stand in my way," dered the old man with a wave of his hand, amanding tone in his voice.


    "s¡­" Hearing the determined words of the aged man, the Demon Shuangxue beside him secretly sighed.


    Longevity is indeed a subject that billions of beings can''t avoid, not even us demons, let alone the immortals in the heavens, who are also subject to the Five Decays of Heaven and Man. Once one''s timees, even immortals must fall.


    The Great King''s life is nearing its limit, and the tempting promise of added longevity from the Immortal Fruit is indeed undeniable.


    "Shuangxue, since that Old Loach and the folks from the Heavenly Master Hall have arrived, lead the demons of Foutu Mountain into battle. Strike first to gain the upper hand. I refuse to believe that the Old Loach''s demons and the men of the Heavenly Master Hall could join forces against us.


    We hold the home advantage on Foutu Mountain, just hope that you can hold the fort long enough for the Tribulus Fruit to mature," the old man instructed after another moment of silence.


    ...


    Meanwhile, down at the base of Foutu Mountain, the people from Heavenly Master Hall had arrived. Leading them was a sword-bearing elder, none other than Elder Sword, the same one who had vanquished the Three-Eyed Crow with a single sword strike during the assault at Jinshan Temple.


    Individuals like Master Fanhai had all greeted Elder Sword.


    As a representative of the Emperor of Tang, Elder Sword also expressed gratitude on behalf of the Emperor for the cooperation of the major sects.


    Now at the foot of Foutu Mountain, there was not much left to prepare. ording to intelligence, the demons led by the King of Flood Dragon had already assembled on the mountain as well.


    "Amitabha, Elder Sword, I am puzzled by a matter and wish for you to clear my confusion. Although the Demon Kings friction over territories is asional, they usually exercise restraint.


    Why, then, have the Tiger King and the King of Flood Dragon escted to a life-and-death feud this time?" Before ascending the mountain, Master Fanhai intoned a Buddhist chant and then addressed Elder Sword with this question, which also echoed the doubts in everyone''s minds.


    "Truthfully, I am unaware of the cause," replied Elder Sword, his face cloaked in bewilderment. He shook his head, admitting, indeed, the struggle between the King of Flood Dragon and the Tiger King was mysteriously a fight to the death.


    "Well, whatever the truth may be, I suppose we will understand once we ascend the mountain and confront the Tiger King and the King of Flood Dragon," stated Master Fanhai, nodding after a moment of silence, taking Elder Sword''s genuine bewilderment at face value.


    Immediately, a group of people, led by those from Heavenly Master Hall, made their way straight up Foutu Mountain.


    Jiang Liu was next in rank only to Master Fanhai in the Great Buddha Temple''s team, so he was very close to the front, while Gaoyang in the team of Heavenly Master Hall, deliberately slowed his pace, staying at the very end...


    Although everyone was watching, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang did not greet each other or speak, but, intuitively, within the scope of what was possible, they moved closer to each other.


    "Gentlemen, this is the territory of Foutu Mountain. I advise you to back down...", however, just as the group was midway up the mountain, suddenly, a beautiful female voice rang out.


    Following that voice, a tide of demon creatures of various forms surged forth on Foutu Mountain, blocking everyone''s path.


    Among these demons, there were prides of lions, fierce tigers, as well as goats and rabbits, a wide variety. Explore stories at empire


    Some demon creatures were gigantic in size, some demon soldiers could walk upright, and some demon generals even wielded bizarre spells of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, demonstrating their strength in the hope of deterring their opponents.


    In front of this collection of oddly shaped demon creatures, three beast-headed humanoid Demon Marshals stood blocking everyone''s path.


    One lion, one goat, and one rabbit¡ªthe beast-headed trio of marshals, clearly all had reached the level of a Demon Marshal.


    "So it''s the three Great Demon Marshals under the Blood Tiger King, of renowned fame...", seeing these demon creatures blocking the way, many cultivators braced themselves, wielding their weapons, while Elder Sword stepped forward a few paces to initiate a greeting.


    "Hahaha, how arrogant the demons of Foutu Mountain are," just then, suddenly, another round of heartyughter echoed, and a group of demons emerged as well.


    Leading them was a Demon Marshal with a human body but a shrimp head,ughing loudly, "As the saying goes, all thend under the sky belongs to the Emperor, Heavenly Master Hall represents the will of the Emperor of Great Tang, and yet you dare to forbid their ascent, it seems you do not hold the Emperor of Tang in regard?"


    "Do not sow discord!" seeing this emerging group of demons, the three Demon Marshals of Foutu Mountain were both shocked and furious.


    These demons all belonged to the King of Flood Dragon''s forces; it was unexpected that they would appear here. Where then was the King of Flood Dragon? The three Great Marshals were feeling somewhat uneasy.


    "Have youe to Foutu Mountain seeking death? It seems your King of Flood Dragon fears death so much that he''s shrunk back like a loach, sending you to die in his stead," Demon Marshal Shuangxue sneered at these Water n demons.


    "Do you want to know where our Great King is? Why don''t you take a guess?" But these Water n creatures were not dull and clearly understood the implication behind Demon Marshal Shuangxue''s mocking words.


    ...


    Jiang Liu wasn''t concerned about the verbal exchanges between these demon creatures and the people from Heavenly Master Hall, but the current situation did surprise him.


    Human cultivators, Foutu Mountain''s demons, and the Water n''s demons now stood in a three-legged standoff.


    Yet, there they were, trading barbs in the way one would banter, was it their nature to talk nonsense during battle? Or was someone intentionally trying to buy time?


    Boom!


    Suddenly, the earth shook, and the terrifying sound of an explosion erupted on Foutu Mountain, drawing everyone''s attention.


    As they looked upwards, Foutu Mountain Peak was a scene of a dragon and tiger inbat!


    "The King of Flood Dragon and the Tiger King, they''ve started fighting!?", Master Fanhai and others, showed faces of shock.

 Chapter 59 Massive Experience Points

    Elder Sword and Master Fanhai exchanged nces, looking at each other in astonishment.


    It was already surprising that the Heavenly Master Hall and the Water n''s demon groups hade, yet the Blood Tiger King had hidden inside Foutu Mountain and did not appear.


    Now, the Water n''s demon group had also arrived at Foutu Mountain, and simrly, the King of Flood Dragon had not stayed behind but had stealthily climbed to the peak of Foutu Mountain to fight the Blood Tiger King alone?


    It seemed that both the King of Flood Dragon and the Tiger King had intentionally kept the people from the Heavenly Master Hall midway up the mountain. So, what secret did they have that they could not let others know?


    After exchanging a look, both Elder Sword and Master Fanhai could feel that the Blood Tiger King and the King of Flood Dragon had a secret they purposely concealed, and this secret should be visible upon reaching the peak.


    Thus, nodding in agreement, neither Elder Sword nor Master Fanhai wasted any more words. They took action together, leading the Heavenly Master Hall and the other cultivators as they rushed towards the mountain peak.


    Whether it was the Foutu Mountain or the Water n''s group of demons, they were actually quite willing to chat idly to bide time. However, seeing these humans take action directly, the demons naturally did not just wait to be killed, and they also struck back with cries.


    Suddenly, a three-way melee ensued, turning Foutu Mountain into a chaotic battlefield¡­


    Several Demon Marshals, with beast heads and human bodies, all possessed strong powers, not the slightest bit weaker than the Electric Light Leopard from the Demon-Suppressing Hall, even stronger perhaps.


    The three Demon Marshals of the Water n focused on Master Fanhai, holding a peculiar pearl emitting myriad glows that transformed into countless threads wrapping around Master Fanhai.


    They could not defeat him, but with the power of this pearl, the three Great Demons could sufficiently entangle his movements.


    On the other side, the three Great Demons of Foutu Mountain also entangled Elder Sword.


    Perhaps representing a higher Cultivation Level or maybe because the Sword Cultivator''s attacks were much sharper, Elder Sword disyed strength that surpasses Master Fanhai. Although obstructed by the three Great Demons, they could barely hinder his movements.


    Raising his hand, sword light rained down, repelling the nearby Tiger Demon and Sheep Demon Demon Marshals. Then, merging with his sword, he broke through the encirclement of the three demons.


    Demon Marshal Shuangxue screamed tragically. It wanted to block him, but how could it stop him? The fierce sword light left a cut, and the fierce Sword Qi wreaked havoc within its body.


    Elder Sword only nced back at Master Fanhai, noticing he was entangled. Without any pause, he took the lead and headed straight for the peak of Foutu Mountain.


    ¡­


    As for these battles among the powerhouses, Jiang Liu merely nced at them and did not pay much attention.


    After all, although his own strength was not weak now, he could not intervene in battles of the level of Demon Marshals.


    Holding the Demon-Subduing Staff, with Daoji and Gaoyang by his side, the three entered a team mode, specifically targeting demon creatures and Demon Soldiers.


    Gaoyang was at the Meridian Unblocking Realm, ranking approximately between levels 10-20. Daoji was about to break through to the Body Tempering Realm, likely around level 20, while Jiang Liu was at level 13.


    The three working together faced little difficulty against Demon Soldiers, while for demons? They were naturally easy to capture.


    With Gaoyang by Jiang Liu''s side, his long whipshed out, interspersed asionally with Flying Daggers shooting forth, demonstrating exceptional martial skills. Daoji also stayed by Jiang Liu''s side, fighting with the Arhat Mace in closebat, his force steady, and with the addition of the Azure Crown''s equipment increasing Defense, he was well-matched against Demon Soldiers.


    In their team state, one demon creature after another fell at the hands of the trio, providing Jiang Liu with a good amount of Experience Points.


    Even asionally, one or two items burst forth, automatically falling into the inventory space.


    However, with the fierce battle ongoing, Jiang Liu did not bother to check.


    Foutu Mountain hadpletely turned into a battlefield, with the three factions shing mid-mountain, and likewise at the mountain peak, a three-way battle raged on¡­


    Tip: Gained 220 Experience Points.


    Tip: Gained 480 Experience Points, acquired Healing Potion.


    Tip: Gained 330 Experience Points.


    Notification: Level increased by 1, current level 14.


    ¡­


    Continuous system notifications appeared, filling Jiang Liu''s heart with delight. Indeed, the chaotic battles on the battlefield were the fastest way to gain experience points.


    Although the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound meditation could yield approximately 700 experience points in an hour, it was much slowerpared to the ughter on the battlefield.


    After not much time of ughter, he had amassed over 10,000 experience points, and Jiang Liu''s level was finally elevated once again.


    Since ascending to level 13 in the Demon-Suppressing Hall, he and Little Witch, along with others, had killed a significant number of demon creatures, including the Electric Light Leopard. After that, he cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound for three days, and today on the battlefield, he acquired over 10,000 additional experience points.


    All in all, it took about 40,000 experience points to advance to level 14, and the speed of leveling up had indeed slowed down considerably¡­


    Although the chaotic battlefield was fraught with dangers, whenever one of them encountered a risk, Jiang Liu would cast the Vajra Mantra defensive skill, which provided strong protection.


    Even if the injuries became severe, he would toss a Guanyin Mantra skill for recovery, and if that wasn''t enough, they had healing potions to use as well.


    Thus, after about half an hour of fiercebat, the injuries that the trio sustained were not particrly severe.


    Although he hadn''t calcted it carefully, since he had leveled up to 14, Jiang Liu must have gained around 20,000 experience points. Looking around, the battlefield was littered with corpses, not only of demons but also of many humans.


    Life here was treated as mere weeds, showcased in a thoroughly vivid disy.


    Master Fanhai, too, bore severe wounds, and in Jiang Liu''s eyes, his health bar had only about one-third remaining. However, equally, one of the three great demon marshals of Foutu Mountain, the Sheep Demon, had fallen. Simrly, a demon marshal from the Water n had been in by a Daoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain.


    Roar!


    Meanwhile, the fight among the three titans at the Foutu Mountain peak seemed to be reaching its conclusion, with a mournful roar of a tiger echoing.


    As the demons at the mountain base lifted their heads, they saw a blue flood dragon twisting agilely high in the sky, its mouth firmly mping a gigantic blood-red fierce tiger.


    Ultimately, the tiger was fiercely flung down by the flood dragon, itsnding location and whether it survived unknown.


    After casting the fierce tiger to the ground, a dragon''s cry resonated in mid-air, and the King of Flood Dragon, without a moment''s hesitation, fled toward the horizon.


    However, just behind the King of Flood Dragon, a dazzling sword Qi streaked across, pursuing relentlessly.


    "The Great King has seeded, we retreat!" With the dragon''s cry, the Water n demon creatures loudly dered, then swiftly began their retreat, descending the mountain.


    The battle at the peak had ended, and naturally, those entangled in the fray on the mountainside saw no reason to continue fighting.


    Seeing the Water n''s demons retreat, those from Foutu Mountain gathered together, restlessly observing the human cultivators.


    One reason was uncertainty about whether the fighting should continue at this juncture, and the other, the conditions of the Tiger King seemed worrisome. It appeared the Tiger King was defeated, and those demons from Foutu Mountaincked any enthusiasm for battle.


    To subdue demons and eliminate evil entirely, having engaged them this far, it was clear these Foutu Mountain demons offered little resistance. The human cultivators, not satisfied with merely stopping, also regrouped and pressed forward¡­


    Thump thump thump!


    However, at that moment, suddenly, a series of heavy footsteps resounded.


    A pitiful-looking fierce tiger, covered in blood, emerged. Its tail waspletely severed, and it was blind in one eye, but the remaining eye was filled with violent ferocity, ring at everyone with a ruthless aura that sent shivers down their spines.


    "Today, all of you humans shall die!" the Blood Tiger King roared in a low growl, brimming with hatred.


    If it had not been for the human''s interference, how could he have lost to the King of Flood Dragon in a fair fight? How could the Tribulus Fruit have been dug out by the King of Flood Dragon?

 Chapter 60 The Strongest Support

    ```


    The Immortal Fruit that could add three Tribulus lifespans was not only the hope for his continued survival, but also his hope to transcend the realm of a Demon King. Now that it had been snatched away, Blood Tiger King was so enraged that his rage and hatred hadpletely filled his reason.


    His eyes, revealing a murderous glint, were fixed on all the humans; the water n demons had all fled, naturally, leaving Blood Tiger King''s fury to be vented upon these humans.


    "Daoji, Xuanzang, you must flee quickly...", Master Fanhai, who was also gravely wounded at this moment, whispered to Jiang Liu and Daoji, urging them to escape as quickly as possible.


    Master Fanhai could see that something was terribly wrong with Blood Tiger King, who seemed to have be desperate. The consequences of a Demon King going mad with desperation were unimaginable.


    After whispering to Jiang Liu and the others, Master Fanhai took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing his internal injuries, and moved forward a few steps.


    "Amitabha, Tiger King, I am unaware of the cause of the strife between you and the Benefactor, King of Flood Dragon, yet now that things havee to this pass, I still advise you toy down your butcher''s knife; otherwise, if everyone here falls today, not only will the Emperor of Tang not spare you, but neither will Zhongnan Mountain, Dragon Tiger Mountain, nor even our Great Buddha Temple.


    Then, no matter how vast the world is, there would be no ce left for you," he said.


    Although Master Fanhai''s words were a threat, they were also reasonable. Usually, the powers of the various great cultivators and Demon Kings kept to a restrained friction, maintaining a certain bnce.


    But now was not like other times. In response to Fanhai''s threat, Blood Tiger King grinned, revealing his ghastly white teeth: "I have guarded a Tribulus Fruit, hoping to extend my life by another Tribulus lifespan. If it weren''t for you attacking my Foutu Mountain, how could I have ended up like this? And now you ask me to put down my knife?


    Ha-ha-ha, my lifespan is short anyway; if I kill all of you today and get subdued and driven out by your bald heads someday, I still wouldn''t be at a loss!"


    Tribulus Fruit!?


    Hearing Blood Tiger King''s words, the cultivators present couldn''t help but their expressions change.


    In this world filled with countless treasures, which treasure would be the most precious? Naturally, it would be those that could extend life.


    Let alone those of us with mortal flesh; even the gods and Buddhas in heaven desire such treasures.


    No wonder Blood Tiger King and King of Flood Dragon fought at the mountaintop, not wanting others to know about the Tribulus Fruit; no wonder that even though King of Flood Dragon had escaped, Elder Sword turned into a beam of light and refused to give up; likewise, no wonder Blood Tiger King was now red with rage, letting evil courage fill his heart...


    "My minions!", Blood Tiger King, enraged and full of killing intent, didn''t have the luxury of time for everyone to be surprised. Maintaining the form of a blood tiger, he shouted loudly: "I have always restrained you from harming human lives or eating humans, but today, these humans came up the mountain to kill us. Therefore, today''s rules of Foutu Mountain are all null and void!"


    "Kill!", with Blood Tiger King there, the demons of Foutu Mountain seemed to have found their backbone. Upon hearing their Great King''smand, the mountain''s demons cried out and then ferociously pounced towards the humans.


    Blood Tiger King lunged directly at Master Fanhai. Although they were both injured, Blood Tiger King was still stronger than Master Fanhai.


    Ignoring the fractures in his tiger''s paw, Blood Tiger King pped aside Master Fanhai''s Dharma Treasure and bit directly into his arm with his formidable jaws, tearing a limb off. Blood Tiger King, now frenzied, fought with the ferocity of a life-for-a-life.


    The madness of the Demon King momentarily overpowered the minds of the nearby cultivators.


    Flee!


    Facing a group of demons gone wild, especially with Blood Tiger King in a suicidal state, the morale of the human cultivators plummeted, and they each turned to flee for their lives.


    "Jiang Liu, we should flee too!", as the saying goes, when an army copses, it is beyond human power to retrieve it. Gaoyang turned his head and urgently said to Jiang Liu.


    "No! If we flee, death is certain. I will stay and help. Only if Master Fanhai can kill Blood Tiger King will we have a chance of survival!" Among the demons were many avian species, flying in the midair, and not a few at the Demon General level. How could they possibly escape? Jiang Liu shook his head, his gaze fixed on Master Fanhai.


    Master Fanhai''s cultivation level had just entered the Returning Void Realm. In terms of rank, he might be slightly lower than Blood Tiger King, but not by much.


    Although the prospect of defeat was clear, with his own support, it would be a different story. On the brink of life and death, it was the only chance for a counterattack.


    ```


    "Help!? How on earth can we assist in a battle between a Demon King and a Great Cultivator of the Returning Void Realm!?" Jiang Liu''s words left Gaoyang and Daoji beside him astonished, disbelieving.


    The battle was urgent, with changes happening in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Liu had no time to exin in detail.


    As abatant, the Monk Profession indeed isn''t much to speak of, with system skills that seemckluster: the Level 1 Silencing Zen, the Level 5 Vajra Mantra, the Level 10 Guanyin Mantra...


    These three system skills are all support skills,pletelycking any offensive abilities.


    But it was precisely because of this that the Monk Profession''s support abilities were incredibly overpowered, even defying differences in strength.


    Master Fanhai had lost an arm, and his Health Point was even lower. Jiang Liu allocated the Skill Points he just gained from leveling up to 14 to the Guanyin Mantra, upgrading it to Middle Level, and simultaneously raised his hand, casting the Guanyin Mantra. Lush, life-filled green light surged on Master Fanhai''s body.


    The wound at his severed arm immediately scabbed over, and the Health Bar above his head also increased a notch, offering some relief to his injuries.


    Guanyin Mantra (Middle Level): Restores 15% of maximum Life Value, Cooldown Time 600 seconds.


    Seeing Xuanzang not only not fleeing but instead running over, Master Fanhai was both shocked and anxious, wanting to rush him away. However, the words that reached the tip of his tongue turned into astonished exmation, "Xuanzang, what Divine Skill is this!?"


    "Master, less talk, drink these two potions!" After casting a Guanyin Mantra, Jiang Liu followed by taking out a Healing Potion''s red bottle and a Mana Potion''s blue bottle.


    The Healing effect was, of course, most notable when the potionsbined with the Guanyin Mantra.


    "A mere Little Monk from the Meridian Unblocking Realm? Seeking death..."


    Watching Jiang Liu dare to intervene in his battle with a Great Cultivator of the Returning Void Realm, the Blood Tiger King was stunned for a moment, but then uttered with a frosty voice.


    While speaking, he opened his tiger mouth, and blood-red Demon Qi condensed.


    "Xuanzang, be careful!" Master Fanhai, who was drinking the potions, saw this scene and was rmed.


    "Silencing Zen!" Seeing the blood-red Demon Qi gathering in the Blood Tiger King''s mouth, Jiang Liu turned around, pointed at the Blood Tiger King, and the Silencing Zen skill was activated.


    The blood-red Demon Qi in the Blood Tiger King''s mouth instantly dissipated into nothingness.


    This left the Blood Tiger King horrified. When he tried to stir the Demon Qi inside his body, he found it was as still as dead water...


    While the Monk Profession''sbat strength is very low in the game, it is precisely because of this lowbat strength that it is filled with control and support skills, like a BUG.


    "What kind of Divine Skill is this? A mere Meridian Unblocking Realm cultivation, and yet capable of mastering such Divine Skills? Who is this little monk?" Unable to mobilize his own Demon Qi, the Blood Tiger King experienced this for the first time in his thousand years of life.


    Beyond the shock, the Blood Tiger King''s gaze fell on Jiang Liu. He wore a Buddhist Hat which obscured the prayer scars on his head.


    At that moment, a light bulb went off in the Blood Tiger King''s head. He recalled that a few days ago, there were rumors about a young monk at the Great Buddha Temple who had lit twelve prayer scars, a marvel that shook all of Great Tang.


    Could it be...

 Chapter 61 Flesh of Longevity

    Mortal cultivators, when they reached the Returning Void Realm, they had already be great cultivators, and ascending beyond that meant shedding the mortal body to achieve the Path of Heavenly Immortal.


    Yet, in a battle between a great cultivator at the Returning Void Realm and a Demon King, how could a little guy from the Meridian Unblocking Realm dare to intervene?


    However, Jiang Liu not only intervened but also yed a role. The healing effects of the Guanyin Mantrabined with the potions quickly healed arge portion of Master Fanhai''s injuries.


    Even the demon Qi gathering in the mouth of the Blood Tiger King dissipated due to the control skill of Silencing Zen, a scene that left everyone speechless.


    Daoji and Gaoyang couldn''t believe it. Although they all knew Jiang Liu possessed extraordinary abilities, they hadn''t expected that his skills would help in a fight between the Demon King and a great cultivator of the Returning Void Realm.


    Master Fanhai was also stunned. As the one who truly experienced the healing effects of the Guanyin Mantra and drank the healing potion, he clearly felt his injuries significantly recover.


    This almost world-altering supernatural power, unbelievably wielded by someone from Meridian Unblocking Realm, could this be the foundation of the disciple with twelve Scar of Precepts?


    The Blood Tiger King also acutely felt the effect of the skill, Silencing Zen. While shocked at heart, he also began to specte about Jiang Liu''s identity, his ferocious eyes briefly scanning the Vidyaraja Crown on Jiang Liu''s head, brimming with killing intent.


    If this child was indeed the disciple of the much-talked-about bearer of twelve scars, then killing him would indeed be hugely profitable.


    If even the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva was killed, how would the people of the Great Buddha Temple exin it to their Buddha? Snaring such a fellow as a funeralpanion would mean a big gain for himself!


    Once the identity of Jiang Liu became clear, the Blood Tiger King, originally aiming only to involve Master Fanhai in a mutual downfall, switched his target to Jiang Liu, then lunged at him with a mighty leap.


    Since the control effect of Silencing Zen prevented the usage of demon Qi, the physical strength alone of the Demon King, even just the strength of flesh and blood, was immensely powerful.


    "Xuanzang, be careful!" Seeing the Blood Tiger King''s movements, Master Fanhai screamed out in rm and quickly rushed over to rescue.


    The might of the Demon King was earth-shattering; despite the inability to manipte demon Qi, facing the gaping maw of the Demon King, Jiang Liu couldn''t dodge and could only watch as the enormous mouth approached his face¡­


    Even with the defense of the Vidyaraja Crown and the exemption of the Vajra Mantra, Jiang Liu knew very well that it was impossible for him to withstand a strike from the Demon King.


    With a bang, the one-armed Master Fanhai, at the very brink of disaster, collided harshly with the Tiger King, both rolling into a tangled heap.


    In this mission to subdue demons and eliminate evil, Master Fanhai knew his primary goal was to protect his disciple Xuanzang.


    Now, as the Blood Tiger King resolutely sought to pull Xuanzang down with him, having no way out, Master Fanhai had no choice but to fight desperately against the demon.


    Both the great cultivator from the Returning Void Realm and the Demon King were injured, fiercely battling each other. For a while, the earth shook and the sky trembled, making it impossible even for the Demon Marshal to approach.


    Although the effect of Silencing Zen was strong, itsted only two seconds after all.


    Shush!


    Upon seeing this scene, Jiang Liu took a deep breath, wanting to help, but a spell directly turned into Buddhist chains, tying up around Jiang Liu, restraining his movements.


    "Daoji! I''m giving you a mission, take Xuanzang away from Foutu Mountain! Leave immediately!"


    Though his health bar was fuller than that of the Blood Tiger King due to the healing effects, in terms of strength, Blood Tiger King was superior to Master Fanhai. As they battled desperately, the one-armed Master Fanhai was still no match.


    "Brother! Let''s go!" Biting his teeth, Daoji also clearly understood the situation at hand; he immediately hoisted up Jiang Liu bound with Buddhist chains and turned to flee down Foutu Mountain.


    Without a word, Gaoyang followed closely, continuously whipping his long whip and shooting flying daggers to clear the path for Jiang Liu. Not seeking to kill enemies but only to escape, they gradually broke out of the encirclement.


    Carrying Jiang Liu swiftly down the mountain, it took nearly half an hour for them to rush from the middle of the mountain to the base. The small demons intercepting them were almost nowhere to be seen; both Daoji and Gaoyang bore many wounds on their bodies, looking extremely wretched.


    At the foot of the mountain, the Buddhist Mantra Seal that had been binding Jiang Liu dissipated, finally granting him his freedom.


    "Brother, Uncle Master Fanhai risked his life to help both of us escape; you mustn''t go back," said Daoji anxiously as he stepped in front of Jiang Liu, who remained silent, staring towards Foutu Mountain, his demeanor one of resolute obstruction.


    Daoji, standing before Jiang Liu, was dressed in tattered monk robes, with a long scratch across his face and blood stains covering his visage; even his health bar was only a fraction of what it once was.


    Jiang Liu sighed internally, cast a Guanyin Mantra for Daoji, and then slowly turned around to pay his respects toward Foutu Mountain.


    Though he was stopped by Saint Monk Longhai from leaving the monastic life after the Incense Offering Ceremony, Saint Monk Longhai hadn''t used force to keep him, and during his days in the Great Buddha Temple, he had indeed received much care.


    Today, Master Fanhai had desperately protected his safety. Jiang Liu engraved this kindness and guilt deeply in his heart, feeling both moved and guilty.


    "Ah, Jiang Liu, you''re hurt..." said Gaoyang worriedly, taking out a silk handkerchief to dress Jiang Liu''s wounds.


    It turned out that a long gash was exposed on Jian Liu''s chest through his torn monk robes, as if a piece of flesh from his chest was missing, causing Gaoyang immense heartache.


    Only now, as he rxed, did Jiang Liu notice the severe pain in his chest. It must have been from when he was bitten by the Blood Tiger King. Although Master Fanhai had knocked the Blood Tiger King away at the critical moment, its sharp fangs had still left a wound on his body.


    "Gaoyang, your injuries are not light either," Jiang Liu said as he watched her attentively wrapping his wounds, seeing that she too was covered in scars, he felt a pang in his heart, and took out two bottles of healing potion, downing one himself and handing one to Gaoyang.


    ... Stay updated through empire


    Leaving aside what was happening at the foot of the mountain, at the top of Foutu Mountainy a field of corpses. The war between demons and humans was also drawing to an end.


    Two Divine Transformation Realm cultivators from Dragon Tiger Mountain and Heavenly Master Hall struck together, causing Demon Marshal Shuangxue to scream in agony. Hit by a Dharma Treasure, he fell directly off the cliff of Foutu Mountain.


    Standing at the cliff''s edge, the two cultivators watched as Demon Marshal Shuangxue fell heavily injured and decided not to pursue further.


    On the other side, the fierce battle between Blood Tiger King and Master Fanhai had reached its final phase; both the tiger and the man were at theirst gasp.


    Finally, despite his thigh being smashed by Master Fanhai''s Buddhist Treasure, breaking his leg bone, the Blood Tiger King''s powerful w struck heavily on Master Fanhai''s head, caving it inpletely, and naturally, he was killed instantly.


    Heaving heavily...


    After killing Master Fanhai, the Blood Tiger King morphed back into an elderly human form, hobbling around and scanning his surroundings. A trace of blood remained at the corner of his mouth¡ªthe residue of the bite he had inflicted on Jiang Liu earlier.


    With Master Fanhai dead and the Blood Tiger King still alive, even though it was evident he was on hisst legs, practically burnt out, he remained a living Demon King, causing the remaining human cultivators to flee in terror.


    Weak and exhausted, the Blood Tiger King watched the few remaining humans flee. As other demons pursued them, there was no need for him to exert himself any further.


    However, as the battle was nearly over, a Demon General approached the Blood Tiger King and, seeing his human form, eximed, "Great King, you¡ªyou''ve grown much younger!".


    At this, the Blood Tiger King looked down at himself¡ªin his human form, the age spots that had once marred his skin had vanished, and his previously loose and wrinkled skin had tightened.


    Feeling his body''s condition more carefully, he was suffused with vitality and no longer felt the imminence of old age, seemingly so.


    "How is this possible? Why have I be young again?", sensing his own drastic change, Blood Tiger King was surprised but mostly bewildered.


    If he had to say he had eaten anything recently, it seemed... he had recently torn off a piece of flesh from that young monk who seemed to carry the scar of twelve fragrances? Could it be... the young monk''s flesh had the effect of granting eternal youth? "I remember old bald Fanhai had him bound and sent away, shouting his dharma name. It was¡­ Xuanzang!"

 Chapter 62 The Road to the Horizon is Long, and There is No Set Time for a Reunion

    Daoji stood to one side, watching Jiang Liu and Gaoyang in their deep affection for each other, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he touched his nose, not knowing what to do with himself.


    Actually, Daoji had long been aware of the rtionship between Jiang Liu and Gaoyang. When they first met at Esquire Zhang''s house, the two of them were inseparable.


    But times had changed since then. Jiang Liu was no longer an unknown novice monk. He had lit twelve incense scars, bing the monk with the deepest connection to Buddhism in the entire world, and an example for monks everywhere.


    Regarding the rtionship between Jiang Liu and Gaoyang, Daoji also held objections in his heart. As a disciple with twelve incense scars, his every word and deed should be beyond reproach.


    However, having spent these days in thepany of Jiang Liu, he hade to greatly admire him. How could he stand out now and speak words that would spoil the mood? Daoji couldn''t bring himself to do it.


    "Jiang Liu, let''s go..." Gaoyang''s small hands were held by Jiang Liu as she looked at him with tender affection in her eyes, and spoke in a soft voice.


    "Go? Where do you mean exactly?" Jiang Liu wasn''t slow to understand; clearly, Gaoyang wasn''t just talking about returning to Chang''an City.


    "The venture to Foutu Mountain was a heavy loss for both the demon ns of Foutu Mountain and our human side, with uncertain life and death. If we just leave like this, others might assume we were devoured by demons. How about we find a secluded ce to live out our days in peace?" said Gaoyang, her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Liu.


    Even though Jiang Liu had already made a promise, and Gaoyang had agreed to wait for him, today seemed to present an opportunity to run away and be free, which was naturally a far better choice.


    What Gaoyang said stirred Jiang Liu''s heart. Indeed, if they were to leave now and be assumed dead in this demon subduing and evil eliminating campaign, it seemed very likely they could deceive Great Buddha Temple and the Emperor of Tang.


    Though he had once said that he would marry Gaoyang openly and honorably, at the time Jiang Liu did not know he was the identity of the Tang Monk. If they could stay together forever, even breaking his past promises would be a sacrifice he was willing to make.


    Moreover, wandering the world with Gaoyang, bing a pair of chivalrous lovers was once a dream of his.


    Yet although his heart wavered, the thought of his identity as the Tang Monk poured a cold bucket of water over him.


    Others might not know his situation, but Jiang Liu himself was all too aware.


    The Journey to the West for Scriptures was the most pressing matter in the Buddhist Realm up until now, with all deities and Buddhas taking great interest. If he were just an ordinary monk from the mortal world, no matter how revered, hiding away might indeed deceive the Imperial Court and Great Buddha Temple.


    But could the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in heaven ever let him go? Could they turn a blind eye to him abandoning the great task of Scripture seeking for love and affection?


    At that moment, who knew what means Guanyin and Buddha would use topel him to submit!


    With his current power, he couldn''t even handle a Demon Marshal, so how could he resist the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas of heaven?


    "Jiang Liu, why are you not speaking? Do you care too much for your current fame and fortune?" Gaoyang asked as she saw Jiang Liu''s silent demeanor, her pretty face angry.


    "Am I such a person!?" Seeing Gaoyang angry, Jiang Liu shook his head and said.


    As he spoke, he organized his thoughts. The matter of the Journey to the West had not yet begun, so of course, he could not speak openly of it. "You know that I have twelve incense scars and should be the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva from the Western Heaven. Why reincarnate? Perhaps I have some very important mission.


    If I were to leave now and live under a false name, perhaps Buddha would not forgive me?"


    Speaking the truth about the Journey to the West for Scriptures would be difficult to exin, so Jiang Liu had to speak with a tone of spection.


    "You need not find such excuses. If the Buddha really has a mission for you, just let the Buddhae forward and tell you himself. As for unpredictableter events, we can discuss themter. If you can''t part with your current fame and fortune, I won''t cling to you," she said.


    Being straightforward by nature and decisive in her actions, Gaoyang said, "To love is to love wholeheartedly and recklessly. But if you cannot let go of fame and fortune, just say so directly. As for your spective worries? They are nothing but hesitation and indecision."


    "In matters of love, I don''t seek eternal bliss, but to have truly loved. As long as our love is sincere, even if your spection turns out to be true, I would rather shatter into pieces than live with eternal regret for never having loved at all."


    As a woman, having spoken to this extent, one could say she hadpletely cast aside a woman''s reserve, deeply moving the person listening to her.


    Find adventures at empire


    After a moment of silence, Jiang Liu resolutely nodded: "So be it. Since you''ve thought it through, I''ll apany you. Should any cmity arise, we''ll face it together."


    "Brother!"


    Regardless of what Gaoyang said, Daoji kept his silence, but upon hearing Jiang Liu''s response, his expression changed drastically, and he eximed in shock.


    "Daoji, if you still value the friendship between us, I implore your help!" Jiang Liu turned around and stared earnestly at Daoji.


    "Brother, you are the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva and will undoubtedly be a leader of our Buddhist Sect. Is what you''re doing worth it?" Daoji''s face showed difficulty as he tried to persuade him.


    "Brother!" With a serious look at Daoji, Jiang Liu didn''t respond to whether it was worth it or not, but his determined gaze was the best answer.


    Looking earnestly at Jiang Liu, seeing there was no chance of him changing his mind, Daoji''s face was marked by difficulty.


    After a long silence, he sighed deeply, "The day we met, brother, you spared my life. In the Demon-Suppressing Hall, we forged a life-and-death bond, and you even gifted me two Buddhist Treasures. I will never forget this favor. I shall go to the Great Buddha Temple and tell the master you have fallen into a demon''s belly.


    However, if this lie is discovered, I may well be a sinner of the Buddhist Sect."


    "Thank you!" Hearing that Daoji was truly willing to help, Jiang Liu felt joy, guilt, and gratitude all at once. A multitude of words converged into the two words "Thank you," which he spoke.


    Hand in hand, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang bid farewell to Daoji and turned to leave.


    "Brother, as we part today and the journey ahead is vast, there may be no future meeting..." Watching the two departing figures, Daoji pressed his palms together and muttered softly.


    ...


    Sitting high above on the Lotus tform, Bodhisattva Guanyin looked down from the Nine Heavens, seeing the multitudes of sentient beings below clearly before her eyes.


    "Even after ten reincarnations, Golden Cicada still possesses such wisdom. The quest to the West has not yet begun, but could he have already guessed a part of it?"


    "Fortunately, I obtained a thread of the Red Thread from the Matchmaker God, igniting their affection like pouring oil on mes. Otherwise, given Golden Cicada''s calm nature, he might not have agreed to elope today. Amitabha, luckily, everything is going ording to n..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 63 The Tiger King Who Extended His Life by 500 Years

    Jiang Liu and Gaoyang walked hand in hand, but despite agreeing to travel the world with Gaoyang, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but feel uneasy.


    The Emperor of Tang and the Great Buddha Temple in the mortal world were one thing, but would the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of Western Heaven let him go?


    Nobody knew when the Buddha and Bodhisattvas of Western Heaven would use some means to force him back onto the road to Western Heaven.


    However, when Jiang Liu turned his head and saw Gaoyang beside him, her joyful demeanor reassured him again.


    Ever since the day Gaoyang''s identity was revealed as a princess, he had not seen her this happy. They had already discussed the consequences of their actions, but since this was Gaoyang''s choice, he decided to apany her, ready to face any tribtions together.


    Perhaps Gaoyang was right, fretting too much about love and being indecisive was indeed not admirable.


    "Eh, there''s someone in the grass ahead," Gaoyang murmured suddenly while they walked.


    At the base of Foutu Mountain, where weeds thrived, a graceful figure in a white cloaky on the ground. Although the weeds obscured a clear view of their face, Jiang Liu found the white cloak somewhat familiar.


    After exchanging looks, they approached and indeed, it was the Demon Marshal Shuangxue, under the banner of the Blood Tiger King, lying in the grass.


    In the midst of battle, cultivators from Zhongnan Mountain and Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Divinity Transformation Realm had jointly struck him down a cliff, where he fortuitously encountered Jiang Liu and Gaoyang, who were just departing.


    "Is it him? Kill him!" Amidst the chaotic battle on the mountain, with countless humans dead or wounded, seeing it was the Demon Marshal under the Blood Tiger King, and already grievously injured, Gaoyang pulled out a flying dagger, saying hatefully.


    "Wait..." Jiang Liu, however, grabbed Gaoyang''s wrist and shook his head, saying, "It hase to this, let us not add to the ughter."


    Having been in the Journey to the West World for several months, and leveling up throughbat, Jiang Liu had somewhat grasped the rules; not only did defeating higher-level monsters increase the experience points gained, but it also significantly increased the drop rate of items. The greater the difference in levels, the higher the drop rate.


    If they killed Demon Marshal Shuangxue today, they would certainly obtain many things.


    However...


    "Jiang Liu, we almost got killed by the Blood Tiger King just now, and so manyrades on the mountain died, even Master Fanhai''s fate is uncertain, why spare this evil demon now?" Gaoyang, whose wrist was held by Jiang Liu, looked at him puzzledly. Although Buddhistpassion was important, wasn''t timing crucial too?


    "When we first met, it was because of the Snow Rabbit n. You once mentioned that the Demon Marshal Shuangxue belonged to the Snow Rabbit n, which, in a sense, also yed a role in bringing us together, right?" Jiang Liu held Gaoyang''s wrist and spoke.


    Really, it was also due to a sense of guilt within him. Initially, he had killed members of the Snow Rabbit n for their meat, and when the demons of the Snow Rabbit n sought revenge, they were killed by Senior Brother Xuankong, leaving Jiang Liu feeling guilty about them.


    Encountering Demon Marshal Shuangxue now, if it was within his power to alleviate this guilt and achieve mental rity, it wouldn''t be bad.


    ording to the rules of the Journey to the West World, this could be seen as settling a karmic debt?


    After all, his encounter with Gaoyang was because of the Snow Rabbit n, and his awareness of the game system also stemmed from having killed Snow Rabbit n members.


    "Alright, since you''ve decided, I''ll listen to you," Gaoyang thought for a moment and then slid the flying dagger back into its sheath.


    Looking at the health bar above Demon Marshal Shuangxue''s head, which only had a sliver of health left and could be depleted at any moment, Jiang Liu thought it through, decided to be thoroughly kind, and cast a Guanyin Mantra on Demon Marshal Shuangxue before leaving.


    From then on, they owed nothing to the Snow Rabbit n.


    Having left Foutu Mountain, the two of them continued their journey, walking for half a day until they came across a small mountain vige. After some discussion, they decided to seclude themselves in this vige and withdraw from worldly affairs.


    ...


    Let''s not talk about Jiang Liu and Gaoyang''s seclusion in the vige. Following the battle at Foutu Mountain, the entire Great Tang was shaken.


    First, the battle between the King of Flood Dragon and the Blood Tiger King, two great Demon Kings, caused the Heavenly Master Hall to join forces with the Great Buddha Temple and Zhongnan Mountain to suppress them.


    This was said to be thergest conflict between the Demon n and humans since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, with over half of the demons at Foutu Mountain killed or injured and even more catastrophic losses among the human cultivators.


    Second, the reason why the King of Flood Dragon and the Blood Tiger King fought to the death turned out to be a nearly ripe Tribulus grass at Foutu Mountain that could extend one''s life by a Tribulus cycle. No wonder the two Demon Kings risked their lives for it.


    Third, Elder Sword from the Heavenly Master Hall pursued the King of Flood Dragon for thousands of miles, killing the Flood Dragon and seizing the Tribulus grass from its possession. However, Elder Sword also went missing afterward, and the world imed he coveted the Tribulus grass and abandoned the Heavenly Master Hall for it.


    With the battle at Foutu Mountain, the news spread throughout the Great Tang, leaving everyone stunned by the revtions about the Tribulus grass.


    However, two dayster, new news arrived. In this battle, the Emperor of Tang''s most beloved princess, Gaoyang, went missing, her life or death unknown.


    Moreover, Xuanzang, the disciple with the twelve incense scars previously celebrated by the Great Buddha Temple, was devoured by demons.


    This news sent further shockwaves throughout the world. Recently, a disciple with twelve incense scars appeared in the Incense Offering Ceremony at the Great Buddha Temple, and along with Xuanzang''s Formless Gatha and the temple''s heavy reward, the theological debate between him and Li Chunfeng had be widely known.


    Unexpectedly, the battle at Foutu Mountain not only led to the downfall of Master Fanhai but also resulted in the demise of Xuanzang, the disciple with the twelve incense scars, within the belly of a demon.


    In a fit of anger, Li Shimin and the Saint Monk Longhai from the Great Buddha Temple joined forces in a sweeping search for the Blood Tiger King, seeking revenge.


    Two whole months passed in a blink, and during these two months, countless demons were in by the Emperor of Tang and the Great Buddha Temple, yet the Blood Tiger King remained elusive, and the demons from Foutu Mountain had long scattered.


    "Brother Tiger, we''ve known each other for hundreds of years, and ours is a friendship sealed by blood. Come, let''s drink. Your repeated rescues have saved my life. Now, with the Emperor of Tang and the Great Buddha Temple tightening their search, you should just settle down safely in my cave," said a lean middle-aged man,ying down drinks and food and heartily lifting his cup.


    "Burp, Brother Wolf, don''t speak like that. Though I have saved you twice, you''ve also helped me a lot..."


    Transformed into a human, the Blood Tiger King belched drunkenly, saying, "Let''s not talk about the past, but now, with Li Shimin and that bald monk Longhai searching the world for me, only you dare to take the risk to shelter me. This kindness, Brother Tiger, I will remember in my heart and never forget."


    Cups clinked as they drank freely, eating heartily and merrily, their drunkenness deepening.


    Seeing that the Blood Tiger King was almostpletely drunk, not only babbling inartictely but barely able to stand straight, swaying from side to side, the Wolf King casually raised his cup and said, "Brother Tiger, there are rumors outside that the Tribulus Fruit was taken by Old Loach that day. Why have you reverted to your youthful vigor? Could it be that the rumors are wrong?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "No, no, the Tribulus Fruit indeed was taken by Old Loach, but Brother Tiger here has been fortunate, haha. The Tribulus Fruit only extends life by a mere one hundred eighty years, but look at me now, robust and hearty, easily good for another three to five hundred years, burp..." the Blood Tiger King said, his face flushed with drink, and bursting intoughter.


    "Then how did youe by this lifespan, Brother Tiger!?" the Wolf King asked, his eyes gleaming.


    Three to five hundred years of life? Such a statement would make anyone tremble with excitement, and the Wolf King''s hand holding the cup shook slightly.


    "That''s because, Brother Tiger enjoyed a piece of meat, a piece of Master Xuanzang''s flesh, a pity that everyone outside ims he was devoured by demons. Who knows who got lucky..."


    (PS: Today is Valentine''s Day, I wish everyone''s girlfriend gets her period tonight, haha...)

 Chapter 64 Exposure

    Dressed in coarse cloth with short sleeves and wearing a felt hat on his head, Jiang Liu trudged along the footpath beside the fields, one foot deep and the other shallow, with a hoe slung over his shoulder and his feet bare.


    The rain yesterday had made the ridges between fields muddy, so it was necessary to go barefoot.


    Looking up, he saw a small mountain vige hundreds of meters away with smoke curling from the chimneys, apanied by the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs, a scene of tranquility and peace.


    ncing back, he noticed the sun setting and flocks of geese returning to their nests; the bucoldscape was picturesque, instilling a sense of calm.


    Perhaps it would be quite nice to live a simple and in life like this for one''s whole life?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Stepping into a nearby ditch, Jiang Liu washed the mud off his feet and put on his hemp shoes, quickly returning to the vige and spotting from a distance a thatched cottage with smoke also rising from it.


    Seeing this scene, Jiang Liu''s expression involuntarily changed; he quickened his pace and just then saw Gaoyang running out, coughing continuously, with her exquisite face slightly ckened from the smoke.


    "What''s happened? Is the house on fire?" Looking at the smoky room, Jiang Liu asked.


    In the midst of speaking, he rushed in, hurried to extinguish the fire, and opened the pot to check. Good heavens, it was full of rice that had solidified into a block.


    "Auntie Wang next door said that as a woman, you must do things likeundry and cooking. Every day it''s you, a man, doing the cooking; people willugh at you," said Gaoyang, looking at the charred mess in the pot and feeling a bit embarrassed as she lowered her head.


    "So, when you cook rice, don''t you add water?" Seeing that the pot contained only rice, the corner of Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched slightly.


    "Ah? You need to add water when cooking rice?" Gaoyang asked with a surprised look on her face.


    "Ah! Murder!"


    However, before Jiang Liu had a chance to share some cooking tips with Gaoyang, suddenly, there was chaos outside, apanied by loud shouting.


    An incident had urred!


    On hearing thismotion, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang paused and then ran outside, only to see that in the small mountain vige of just a few dozen families, several fierce-looking bandits, armed with knives, were ughtering vigers and plundering their belongings.


    Even two younger girls were being seized and prepared for abduction.


    A man with a pale, somewhat sicklyplexion and a treasure sword at his waist sat quietly on a jujube-red horse, obviously the leader of these bandits.


    As Jiang Liu and Gaoyang emerged, two of the bandits were immediately drawn to Gaoyang, their eyes shining, "Who would have thought such a beautiful woman could be found in this tiny mountain vige?"


    Even though Gaoyang was dressed in simple work clothes, she was, after all, born a Princess of Great Tang and her appearance and aura werepletely different from those of the vige women; seeing Gaoyang, the two bandits hastily charged over, reaching out to take her.


    But then, screams rang out. Gaoyang lifted her foot, one kick per bandit, sending them flying away.


    Each bandit, having received a kick, was sent flying more than half a zhang away.


    "Oh? There are actually people trained in martial arts in this little mountain vige?" The young man with the white face sitting on the jujube-red horse noticed the scene here and raised an eyebrow; he spurred his horse and rushed over, his sword ringing as he drew it from the scabbard.


    Jiang Liu stepped forward, golden light shining in his hand, and threw a punch at the head of the jujube-red horse.


    With a thud, the punch, like a hammer,nded on the jujube-red horse''s head, causing the horse to neigh in agony and copse to the ground.


    Of course, the young man with the pale face who was sitting on the horseback also rolled off the horse along with him.


    Although he lived in seclusion in a small mountain vige, not wanting to be involved in worldly affairs, content with a simple life, how could Jiang Liu stand by when bandits attacked the vige,mitting mass murder, and even looked to kidnap Gaoyang?


    "What a formidable guy!", the pale-faced young man rolled on the ground twice, dissipating the force of the fall, and stood up, staring at Jiang Liu in astonishment. He hadn''t expected that such a small mountain vige would hide such an expert.


    Now that he had made his move, he would show no mercy to these cruel bandits.


    Jiang Liu leaped into the air and pounced towards the pale-faced young man again, his palm lifting at the same time to retrieve the Demon Subduing Staff from his storage space and smashed it down.


    The world blurred before his eyes, and upon seeing the Demon Subduing Staff suddenly appear in Jiang Liu''s hands, the young man stepped back in horror, his sword pointing towards Jiang Liu.


    With a ng, the powerful strike broke the sword in the pale-faced young man''s hand, and the unabated momentum of the Demon Subduing Staff crashed onto his shoulder. The sound of a crack echoed alongside a scream as his shoulder de was clearly broken.


    However, amidst his injury, the young man raised his palm, and a streak of blue light shed towards Jiang Liu''s head.


    "Hidden weapons?", with only a faint blue afterimage visible in his eyes, Jiang Liu hastily raised the Demon Subduing Staff horizontally in defense against the suspected hidden weapon attack.


    But the blue shadow made an extremely agile turn in mid-air, bypassing the Demon Subduing Staff, and in the blink of an eye, it was in front of Jiang Liu''s forehead.


    Startled in his heart, Jiang Liu reflexively contracted his head.


    Although he sessfully dodged the strike, his head felt cold as the little felt hat that had been sitting on top of his head flew off.


    Turning his head to see, it turned out that what flew towards him wasn''t any hidden weapon, but a blue mantis with wings.


    "A demon creature?", A mantis that could move at such speed must certainly be a demon creature, Jiang Liu realized.


    "A monk!?", with his felt hat knocked off by his own flying mantis, the pale-faced young man took in Jiang Liu''s bald head and was visibly taken aback.


    However, when the young man took a closer look at therge Incense Scar Initiation marks on Jiang Liu''s head, he widened his eyes, full of disbelief: one... two... three...


    "Ten... twelve incense scars... you, you''re Master Xuanzang!?" His voice trailed off as the sword fell from the pale-faced young man''s hands, and he stared at Jiang Liu with terror, muttering to himself.


    "Sigh...", caught off guard, his hat fell off, revealing his identity. Jiang Liu sighed inwardly, raised his palm, and a hot burst of me followed his motion, exploding directly upon the pale-faced young man.


    In just a moment, all six or seven bandits were killed by Jiang Liu.


    "Thank you, Master Xuanzang, for your rescue, thank you, Mage!", the remaining vigers all knelt down and bowed to Jiang Liu in gratitude.


    "Auntie Wang, Uncle Zhang, please get up!", Having lived in the small mountain vige for two months, Gaoyang was familiar with these vigers and hurriedly helped them to their feet.


    "Gaoyang, let''s go, let''s leave this ce, the farther the better...", Now that his identity was exposed, he could kill these bandits to silence them, but murdering these vigers? Jiang Liu couldn''t bring himself to do such a thing. He could only take Gaoyang, swiftly pack up some belongings at home, and leave quickly.


    "Caw caw caw...", However, above the small mountain vige, a ck crow let out an unpleasant screech and flew away into the distance.


    "Xuanzang, Xuanzang has been found, he''s not dead. I must hurry and report to the Great King, there''ll surely be a great reward, a great reward".

 Chapter 65 The Three Demon Kings

    Great Buddha Temple, within the great hall.


    Daoji, dressed in a monk''s robe, bowed his head before the statue of Tathagata, confessing and chanting scriptures.


    Because he had lied, iming that his brother, Master Xuanzang, had been devoured by a demon, recently, Master Longhai had been mired in self-me, all of which Daoji clearly saw and which made him feel guilty.


    "Amitabha, two months have passed, and there has still been no word regarding my brother and Princess Gaoyang. I truly wonder how they are faring."


    While confessing before the statue of Tathagata, Daoji''s thoughts inevitably drifted to Jiang Liu and Gaoyang.


    As a monk with twelve Scar of Precepts, deeply connected with Buddha, in Daoji''s view, he should have had a promising future, revered by millions of monks.


    Yet, for the sake of romantic attachment, he was living in anonymity.


    Even though Daoji had agreed out of emotional attachment, each time he thought about it, he felt pity for Jiang Liu.


    "Dragon Subduing, do you realize your sin...," just as Daoji was kneeling before the statue, absorbed in his thoughts, suddenly, a majestic voice resonated, overwhelming his spirit.


    Looking up, Daoji was startled to find that the originally serene-faced statue of Tathagata had, unknowingly, opened its eyes, gazing intently at him.


    "The Buddha has manifested, O Tathagata, your disciple realizes his sin...," seeing the statue stare intently at him, Daoji was shocked and prostrated himself on the ground, no longer considering why he was addressed as Dragon Subduing.


    "Dragon Subduing, Xuanzang''s escape rtes to a major n of our Buddhist Sect. Yet you secretly helped him escape, do you realize your sin?" the eyes of the Tathagata statue seemed to bear an immense gravity, pressing on Daoji.


    "O Tathagata, I, I realize my sin!" Daoji said, bowing his head as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his expression filled with terror.


    "Master Xuanzang''s destiny has already been determined, beyond the power of mortals to contend. Because of your moment of sentimentality, he is now facing great peril. Go now, hasten to his rescue..."


    With the fall of the voice of the Tathagata statue, a piece of information suddenly appeared in Daoji''s mind¡ªa signal on where to find Jiang Liu, who was in danger.


    Feeling as if he were in a half-dream state, as if he had just napped, when Daoji came to his senses and looked up at the Tathagata statue, it was solemn and unchanged, everything just now seeming like a dream.


    However, Daoji dared not consider everything that had happened as merely a dream, his mind still vividly recalling that Master Xuanzang was in dire need of rescue.


    "Master, Master Longhai, quick, we must hurry to save him...", without even waiting to bow to the Tathagata statue, realizing the seriousness of the situation, Daoji loudly shouted, running out of the great hall.


    ...


    Jiang Liu and Gaoyang, walking off into the distance, had encountered bandits attacking a small mountain vige. They had intervened, a decision neither regretted, knowing that not intervening would not have stopped the bandits either.


    However, in the midst of action, Jiang Liu''s hat had been knocked off, unexpectedly exposing his identity under the watchful eyes of all.


    Though the bandits were ughtered to silence them, how could they possibly strike down the vigers? Hence, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang had no choice but to leave.


    Even though Jiang Liu had been thinking about living in seclusion, with his identity now exposed, both the Great Buddha Temple and the Great Tang Imperial Court would surely have heard this news, and the forces seeking him would be tremendous...


    "Jiang Liu, it''s okay," Gaoyang, understanding what was on his mind, silently took his hand.


    "Even if my father captures and takes us back, it''s okay. We had discussed this before. I will wait for you in the Imperial Pce. Being captured is just as we had nned before. Surely Father wouldn''t kill us. But to have spent these two months together with you is already a fortune gained."


    "Yes, I know," Jiang Liu replied, squeezing Gaoyang''s small hand and nodding.


    As she said, it wasn''t entirely a bad situation, merely a return to the status quo.


    Ouch...ouch...


    Having fled for the entire day, as dusk fell, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang reached the outskirts of a town, just as a series of painful groans arose, drawing their attention.


    Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang followed the voice, only to see a woman sitting on the ground, clutching her foot.


    "You two, I am from Yong''an Town, and I twisted my ankle on my way back home. Could you help me back to my house? My family will surely reward you generously!" the woman hastily called out for help as Princess Gaoyang and Jiang Liu approached.


    "Madam, it''s no trouble at all...", hearing the plea, the chivalrous nature of Princess Gaoyang meant she couldn''t refuse and began to walk towards her.


    However, Jiang Liu grabbed hold of Princess Gaoyang''s hand and watched the woman warily. This scene seemed eerily familiar.


    Right, back then at the back mountain of Jinshan Temple, wasn''t it a woman among the bandits who had used the same tactic to deceive him?


    As the old saying goes, "Once bitten, twice shy." Although it might not be a deception this time, it was always better to be cautious.


    "Hah, thinking of tricking me? Go to hell!" Not caring whether it was a trap or not, Jiang Liu raised his hand, pretending to have seen through the n, and shouted.


    While he spoke, the Demon Subduing Staff appeared in his hand, and he fiercely smashed it towards the woman.


    "Jiang Liu!", suddenly, Princess Gaoyang''s face changed with a shocked cry as Jiang Liushed out without any provocation.


    Smack.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Pretending to attack, Jiang Liu watched the elderly woman''s terrified expression, suspecting he might have guessed wrong and was about to pull back when, in a blur, his Demon Subduing Staff was caught by the woman''s hand.


    "To think you are Master Xuanzang? I believed I had concealed my ws well, how did you see through me?" the woman asked earnestly, holding the Demon Subduing Staff in her hand.


    "You old hag, why all these convoluted tricks? Master Xuanzang is just at the Meridian Unblocking Realm; you could have simply captured him directly without any scheming," another male voice chimed in at the same time as a skinny man stepped forward.


    "Who are you people!?", with the Demon Subduing Staff caught and feeling as heavy as a mountain, Jiang Liu was astounded by their strength and stared at the man and woman before him.


    "They are the Greedy Wolf King and the Guibei King, they have been colluding together for a long time..."


    However, before they could reply, another voice rang out.


    Looking in the direction of the voice, unknown to them, a white phosphorus snake had crawled onto Princess Gaoyang, and as the words were spoken, the snake transformed into a woman with purple nails tightening around Princess Gaoyang''s neck.


    "Able to transform into a human form! A Demon King!?", seeing the transformation of the White Scaled Snake into a woman and hearing her exin the identity of the man and woman, Jiang Liu''s expression darkened.


    Demons, as their cultivation deepened, each revealed different characteristics.


    Amon Demon often disyed itself in immense size; lesser Demons began to develop early spiritual wisdom, speaking humannguages; Demon Soldiers could mimic human actions, walking upright.


    Higher up, Demon Generals couldmand strange Demon Arts, such as controlling wind, fire, thunder, and so on.


    And Demon Marshals, they had already begun the initial transformation into human form, beast-headed and human-bodied, like Demon Marshal Shuangxue.


    Finally, a Demon King hadpletely transformed into human form!


    At this moment, were these three of the Great Demon Kings? Read new chapters at empire


    How powerful are Demon Kings? The dispute between the Blood Tiger King and the King of Flood Dragon over Foutu Mountain was evidence enough.


    Yet, here were three Demon Kings appearing? Were they here to eradicate him, a Buddhist Disciple with the Scar of Precepts?


    Wait, that doesn''t seem right. If it was just to eliminate him, a significant threat to Buddhism, why did it seem like the White Snake, another Demon King, waspeting to kill him?


    Could it be that by killing him, they could still im a reward?!

 Chapter 66 Divine Skills No Match for Fate

    In Great Tang, despite a coexistence between the Human n and Demon n maintaining a certain bnce, the blood feud spanning generations between them was undeniable.


    Therefore, the appearance of a disciple marked with twelve fragrant scars meant the Demon n would seize the opportunity to eliminate this threat while they were still weak. This was within reason.


    That''s why when he simply traveled from Chang''an City to Jinshan Temple, even the Saint Monk Longhai insisted that the Buddhist Pnquin and Master Huihai apany him for protection¡­


    However, if they merely wanted to kill him, wouldn''t any Demon Marshal suffice?


    Yet it was the Demon Kings who hade. Not only did two miserable Demon Kings appear in person, but the White Snake Demon King had alsoe with intentions of rivalry, which waspletely unreasonable.


    "White Venom King, what is your purpose here?" the Werewolf King, transformed into a woman, stared at the Demon King transformed into a White Snake and asked sternly.


    Even though he was teamed up with two Great Demon Kings and wasn''t afraid of her, he had to admit that a master of poison, capable of defeating the many and the strong with less, was not a rarity.


    And the poison of the White Venom King was ranked among the top throughout Great Tang.


    "What a joke, if you cane, why can''t I? If you have your reasons foring, I naturally have mine too," the White Venom King, holding Princess Gaoyang''s neck, coyly giggled at the two Demon Kings.


    "You knew about the Evesting Flesh too? How did you find out!?" At this point, how could the two beleaguered kings not realize the White Venom King''s goal? They asked in shock.


    "You were able to intoxicate the Blood Tiger King and pry this news from his lips; do you really think there are walls in this world that don''t leak?"


    "Evesting Flesh!?" Jiang Liu, overhearing the conversation among the Demon Kings, was inwardly shocked and soon came to realize.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    No wonder the three Great Demon Kings had shown up and were subtlypeting. It was because of the news that his flesh granted immortality.


    A single Tribulus Fruit had made the Blood Tiger King and King of Flood Dragon fight to the death, so for his immortal flesh, it was no surprise that these three Great Demon Kings had mobilized.


    As Jiang Liu pondered, a pinkish poison mist spewed from the mouth of the White Venom King, enveloping and surrounding the two beleaguered demons.


    "White Venom King, your poison might be formidable, but we are all in the realm of Demon Kings. Do you really think you can take on both of us alone and snatch Xuanzang away? You''re underestimating us too much," said the Wolf King ominously as they looked at the restricting poison mist around them.


    "How would I know if I don''t try?" the White Venom King, clearly confident in his poison, responded.


    Just as the three Demon Kings were about to confront each other, Jiang Liu stepped forward two paces, interjecting, "Wait, the three of you, I have a question¡ªhow did you learn of my flesh granting immortality?"


    Although the original transcripts mentioned it, Jiang Liu was curious, as how could such a rumor have spread without cause?


    "You don''t know?" The question from Jiang Liu took the three Great Demon Kings by surprise, all staring at him in astonishment. Your next chapter is on empire


    "Know what?" Jiang Liu appeared utterly baffled.


    "During the battle at Foutu Mountain that day, didn''t the Blood Tiger King tear off a piece of flesh from you?" the White Venom King, not in a hurry to fight, asked Jiang Liu.


    Touching his chest where his wound had long since healed, Jiang Liu nodded, "Indeed, it was so; could it be because of that, his lifespan increased?"


    "Correct, since then, the Blood Tiger King''s vitality surged, and he became younger, rumored to have increased his lifespan by five hundred years!" the White Venom King nodded and answered.


    "So it''s true, my flesh indeed can increase lifespan?"


    At this, Jiang Liu finally understood.


    "Wait, your name is White Venom King, right? Those two captured me because they want the Flesh of Longevity I possess, but why are you holding Gaoyang hostage?" Jiang Liu asked, looking at Gaoyang being choked by the White Venom King, partly out of concern for Gaoyang''s safety and partly baffled.


    "Hmm?" As Jiang Liu spoke, the Werewolf King, who had transformed into a woman, raised her eyebrows in surprise and also sensed something wrong while looking at White Venom King.


    Yes, it made sense for them to capture Xuanzang, but why hold Gaoyang? What use was she?


    "Hahaha, Master Xuanzang, your mind is indeed clear. Do you think I exined about the Flesh of Longevity and deliberately blocked their way to stall for time without a reason?" White Venom Kingughed charmingly after hearing Jiang Liu''s words.


    Giving a distraught look, White Venom King said, "They say divine skills cannot defy fate. Do you two think only our Demon n knew that Master Xuanzang had reappeared?"


    "Could it be..." the two distraught demons''plexions drastically changed.


    Just then, as if to confirm the Demon Kings'' spection, brilliant Buddhist Light appeared on the horizon.


    At the same time, a resounding dragon chant echoed between heaven and earth, the utterly strong and yang sound of the dragon chant rmed all three Demon Kings.


    "That old baldy from Longhai is here! Run!" Turning their heads to see the Buddhist Light appearing in the sky, the two werewolf demons no longer cared about the pink miasmatic poison gas in front of them, activated their demon energy, and burst out.


    White Venom King, with one hand gripping Gaoyang and the other waving, released a surge of poisonous energy that swept through like a tsunami.


    "White Venom King, you, a member of the Demon n, actually colluding with humans, you, you..." Though they were fleeing rapidly, the poison was like bone maggots; they still inhaled quite a lot, their heads feeling dizzy and muddled. The two werewolf demons cursed in shock and anger.


    "Keep cursing. I have already foreseen that today you two will undoubtedly die, while I shall enjoy the Flesh of Longevity, hahaha..." White Venom Kingughed triumphantly.


    The radiant Buddhist Light descended from the sky, the resounding dragon chant suppressed them, already poisoned, the Wolf King and Demon King, their heads dizzy and muddled, were sted away by the dense and yang dragon chant, vomiting demon blood.


    Jiang Liu, too, had inhaled the poison, felt dizzy and muddled, and fell to the ground, barely able to stand, but his gaze swept over the two werewolf demons and could see that their health bars were more than half depleted.


    "Xuanzang, you''re really unharmed, that''s great," as the Buddhist Light receded, Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji descended from the sky, Longhai delightfully eximed seeing Daoji helping Jiang Liu up.


    "Save... save Gaoyang..." afflicted by the miasmatic poison, Jiang Liu felt dizzy and seemed about to pass out, but he forced himself to stay conscious and spoke with Daoji''s support. With Gaoyang in the grasp of a Demon King, how could Jiang Liu feel at ease?


    "Rest assured, I am here," Longhai reassured, patting Jiang Liu''s shoulder and speaking softly.


    Having Daoji look after Jiang Liu carefully, Longhai turned back and fixed his gaze on White Venom King: "Amitabha, Benefactor White Venom, Princess Gaoyang is the beloved daughter of the Emperor of Tang. I advise you to release her, otherwise, Emperor Tang will surely level your Mountain of Ten Thousand Snakes to the ground."


    "Hehe, Longhai, don''t scare me. Beforeing here, I had already dismissed all the demons from Mountain of Ten Thousand Snakes. Of course, the life or death of the princess is in your hands. I only want one thing.


    If you agree, not a single hair on Princess Gaoyang will be harmed; otherwise, I would like to see if your Great Buddha Temple and the Imperial Court can resolve the legendary Corrupting Spirit Poison that can kill immortals."


    The mention of Corrupting Spirit Poison altered Saint Monk Longhai''s expression.


    "What do you want?" Longhai asked, his face somber.


    "Everyone says that Master Xuanzang''s flesh grants Longevity Life. This king wants to taste it. Hehe, a piece of flesh for Princess Gaoyang''s life, worth it, wouldn''t you say?"


    "Impossible!" Saint Monk Longhai, his face as still as water.


    Jiang Liu, summoning all his strength and struggling to keep alert, shouted:


    "I, I agree..."

 Chapter 67 Dragon Subduing Arhat

    The two disdainful demons, both at the cultivation level of a Demon King, chose to turn and flee when faced with Saint Monk Longhai.


    However, White Venom King remained calm in the face of Longhai, not because her strength exceeded that of the two disdainful demons; otherwise, she could have directly taken action to capture Xuanzang and leave. Why would she need to stall for time until Longhai arrived?


    The reason was that besides her exquisite ability to use poison, White Venom King was also incredibly adept in divination.


    Today, after learning that Master Xuanzang was not dead, White Venom King had cast a divination for herself before setting out.


    The highest fortune of the divination indicated that her mission would have shocks but no peril and that she could obtain the Flesh of Longevity¡ªtherefore, White Venom King proceeded...


    It was for this reason, even when facing the two disdainful Demon Kings, White Venom King held firm in her belief; she subdued Princess Gaoyang to buy time until Longhai arrived.


    Indeed, as the divination showed, they were no match at all, yet she could exchange Princess Gaoyang for a piece of the Flesh of Longevity...


    Regarding Jiang Liu''s reply, White Venom King was not surprised. More urately, the development of events was just as her divination had shown, without a single fault.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Longhai, since Master Xuanzang has made his choice, why bother being the viin?" With a smile, White Venom King, still sping Princess Gaoyang''s neck, spoke to Longhai.


    "Xuanzang, no, you must know..." Longhai turned around, his gaze falling on Jiang Liu, he objected.


    "Holy Monk, I, I have decided...," Jiang Liu interrupted what Longhai was about to say. Despite his weakened spirit and the constant threat of losing consciousness, his intermittent words revealed a resolute tone.


    To exchange a piece of flesh for Princess Gaoyang''s safety, Jiang Liu would spare no effort!


    As he spoke, Jiang Liu''s hand slowly lifted¡ªonly he could see his storage space that he withdrew a kitchen knife from, and then he shed it toward his own arm...


    p!


    However, just as the kitchen knife was about to hit Jiang Liu''s arm, suddenly, his wrist was grabbed by someone. The person who acted was Daoji.


    "Dao? Daoji?" Even Saint Monk Longhai hadn''t forcibly stopped his choice, but Daoji actually took action, which made Jiang Liu raise his head in surprise, looking at him.


    "Amitabha, Master Xuanzang, such self-harm surely losses face for the Buddhist Sect," Daoji said solemnly, his eyes seemingly containing endless authority. He spoke in a steady and authoritative tone.


    Before Jiang Liu could reply, Daoji''s gaze immediately fell on White Venom King, the utmost Yang Buddhist Light bursting forth from him, even more vigorous and vast than that of Saint Monk Longhai: "How dare such a mere White Snake act arrogantly before me?"


    "You, who are you? Such vast and pure Buddhist power, you, you are certainly no ordinary monk from the mortal world..." Seeing the tremendous Buddhist Light of Daoji, White Venom King''s face showed a look of terror, clutching Princess Gaoyang as she stepped back.


    It wasn''t just a mere gap in strength, but more importantly, in the face of Daoji, White Venom King felt as though she was facing a natural enemy.


    "He is not Daoji! Who is he!?" Although he looked exactly like the Daoji he knew, the entire demeanor and strength were utterly iparable, Jiang Liu thought in shock.


    "This seat, Western Spirit Mountain, Tathagata''s Dragon Subduing Arhat of the eighteen Arhats, has subdued many dragons among heaven and earth. You mere Snake Demon, are seeking your own death!" facing the terrified screams of White Venom King, "Daoji" said in a condescending tone.


    While speaking, he stretched out his palm and grabbed towards the White Venom King.


    "Dragon Subduing Arhat!? Could this guy really be the reincarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat?" Jiang Liu murmured to himself upon hearing what "Daoji" said.


    It was one thing for Daoji to have the same Buddhist name as the legendary Living Buddha Ji Gong, but he even had nine incense scars, which made Jiang Liu secretly suspect whether he was really the reincarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    Now, it seemed that at this crucial moment, Daoji''s Primordial Spirit had awakened and transformed back into the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    Regardless, since the Dragon Subduing Arhat had appeared, Jiang Liu also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even if it was only the Primordial Spirit, the Dragon Subduing Arhat was after all a transcendental being among the Immortal Gods, certainly not something this Mortal World''s Snake Demon could contend with.


    Indeed, as the Dragon Subduing had said, bearing the title of Dragon Subduing naturally meant subduing snakes was even more effortless.


    "Amitabha, so it is the reincarnation of the Dragon Subduing Arhat, no wonder there is such a Buddhist connection...", hearing the Dragon Subduing Arhat reveal his identity, the nearby Saint Monk Longhai was astonished by Daoji''s transformation and suddenly understood.


    Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "No, this can''t be..." Watching the Dragon Subduing Arhat''s hand reaching toward him, with a palm movement that wasn''t fast but felt inevitably unavoidable, White Venom King could only watch in horror as the hand came down.


    He had already calcted for himself that this venture would be risky but without peril, that he could sessfully taste a piece of the Evesting Flesh. Why, why had even the Dragon Subduing Arhat appeared?


    As the Dragon Subduing reached out his hand, even if it were a Demon King, this white snake seemed to have no ability to resist at all in his palm, and the White Venom King had reverted back to his true form as a white snake, being held by the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    With a forceful squeeze of his palm, the White Venom King, much like an ordinary snake, was effortlessly crushed to death by the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    "Thank you, Dragon Subduing Arhat, for stepping in!" Following the death of the White Venom King, the Saint Monk Longhai expressed his gratitude to the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    "Saint Monk Longhai, there is no need for thanks. Considering our identities, having reincarnated and cultivated again, you are still my master in this life," the Dragon Subduing Arhat responded calmly, returning the gesture.


    After Daoji transformed into the Dragon Subduing Arhat and had exchanged greetings with Saint Monk Longhai in the manner of an Arhat, he raised his palm and lifted the nearby unconscious Jiang Liu.


    Already affected by the poisonous miasma fog in his mind, and only keeping conscious due to the critical situation of Gaoyang, seeing Daoji transform into the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu sighed in relief. Finding it difficult to resist the effects of the poison fog any longer, he passed out.


    "Oh no!" Just as the Dragon Subduing Arhat caught the unconscious Jiang Liu, Saint Monk Longhai, after assisting Gaoyang to rise, let out a cry as his expression drastically changed.


    Gaoyang, too, had fallen into unconsciousness. At the spot where White Venom King''s nails had gripped her neck, several wounds remained, out of which strands of purplish-red poison gas spread through her body.


    "Arhat, Princess Gaoyang is the beloved daughter of the Emperor of Tang and has been severely poisoned. Please, Arhat, help to save her!" Seeing the obvious signs of poisoning in Gaoyang, Longhai spoke urgently.


    "Amitabha, the Corrupting Spirit Poison, is beyond my ability to undo. This woman''s fate is destined to face this trial. Saint, please take her back to the Imperial Pce," the Dragon Subduing Arhat looked obliquely at Gaoyang supported by Saint Monk Longhai, his expression serene and indifferent.

 Chapter 68 Daoji is Dragon Subduing, but Dragon Subduing is not Daoji

    He rubbed his head and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat vacant.


    However, his vision quickly became clear, and he remembered the encounter with the three Great Demons, and then Daoji transforming into the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, you have awakened," just then, a familiar yet strange voice sounded beside him.


    The voice was familiar because it was well-known, but the tone gave a feeling of strangeness.


    Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Daoji, no, he should be addressed as the Dragon Subduing Arhat, sitting beside him, quietly watching him.


    "Arhat, how is Gaoyang?" he asked, sitting up and addressing the Dragon Subduing Arhat. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    Although the Dragon Subduing Arhat was present, Jiang Liu felt that the White Venom King wouldn''t be able to stir up much trouble, but since he had passed out, he hadn''t personally seen Gaoyang out of danger, so his heart was naturally unsettled.


    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, you should know that as a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, one must not indulge in personal love affairs," instead of answering Jiang Liu''s question, the Dragon Subduing Arhat stared at him with a stern look and spoke in a heavy tone of rebuke.


    After being scolded by the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu was slightly stunned. Then, after a moment of silence, he felt that the Arhat before him and the Daoji he remembered were worlds apart and asked, "Are you not Daoji?"


    "Daoji is merely the identity of my True Spirit in reincarnation. Daoji''s experiences and memories are but a trivial decade or so within my several millennia of life," the Arhat answered calmly in response to Jiang Liu''s question, "Daoji is part of the Dragon Subduing, but the Dragon Subduing is not Daoji."


    "This is the rtionship between inclusion and being included..." Jiang Liu understood the exnation from the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    To put it simply, if Daoji''s experiences and memories gathered bit by bit over a decade were like a cup of water, then the Dragon Subduing''s thousands of years of experiences and memories were like a pond.


    Pouring that cup of water into the pond, the oue was self-evident.


    "The Golden Cicada that I knew, was devoted to Buddha as the second disciple of the Tathagata. His Buddha-like heart and nature won the admiration of everyone on Spirit Mountain. He reincarnated ten times, with the previous nine times firmly holding on to his beliefs and not forgetting his destined Scripture Seeking task.


    Yet to my surprise, in this most crucial life, you have be so intoxicated with love," the Dragon Subduing Arhat pondered for a moment and felt that it was time to tell him of his destiny to seek scriptures in the West.


    The Dragon Subduing Arhat was both angry and helpless at this moment.


    Having descended to Lower Realm for a mission, Buddha gave me a chance to redeem my mistakes, which was to guide the reincarnation of Master Golden Cicada onto the path of his destined journey to the West after my reincarnation.


    In the eyes of the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Golden Cicada always remembered his mission in the previous nine reincarnations, so this task shouldn''t have been difficult. Yet unexpectedly, in thisst life, Golden Cicada became drunk on romance?


    This was something the Dragon Subduing Arhat would naturally stop at no cost.


    Fortunately, Gaoyang had been poisoned with the Corrupting Spirit Poison, a poison that could kill immortals. It''s not that Icked the ability to cure it, even if I could, I would absolutely not do it.


    However, Jiang Liu had long been aware of his destined Scripture Seeking mission. Upon hearing this news, he did not react with shock or rush to ask questions, but instead stared seriously at the Dragon Subduing Arhat and asked again, "Just now, Arhat, you did not answer my question. How is Gaoyang? Has she escaped danger safely?"


    After speaking out about his destined journey to the West for scriptures, he still doesn''t care and is still concerned about that woman?


    The Dragon Subduing Arhat was both shocked and angry, and after a brief moment of silence, he felt that it was time to tell him the truth, topletely cut off his thoughts of this love affair.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "That mere Snake Demon, I have already in her. However, I was a step toote when I acted. That Snake Demon injected the Corrupting Spirit Poison into Princess Gaoyang''s body. I don''t have the ability to cure it. In forty-nine days, that girl will perish from rotting inside and out," said the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    "You did it on purpose!"


    The words of the Dragon Subduing Arhat startled Jiang Liu, who abruptly rose from the bed and shouted at the Dragon Subduing Arhat, "With your cultivation level that transcends worldly affairs, even dragons can be subdued by you. How could you let a White Snake poison under your watch? You did it on purpose!"


    "Amitabha, please understand the situation. I am under no obligation to save people for you!" Despite Jiang Liu''s angry shouting, the Dragon Subduing Arhat remained calm and spoke indifferently.


    This speech left Jiang Liu speechless.


    Indeed, from a rational perspective, the Dragon Subduing Arhat truly was under no obligation to save anyone. Even separating him from Gaoyang was a reasonable act, and all this had been anticipated by him long before.


    Yet, when everything actually unfolded, Jiang Liu still found his mind in disarray.


    Though from the standpoint of the Buddhist Sect, the Dragon Subduing Arhat would not be wrong even if he deliberately caused Gaoyang''s death, from Jiang Liu''s point of view, there was naturally anger in his heart.


    "Fine, fine, such is the passionate'' Buddhist Sect," Jiang Liu said angrily and with a mockingugh, gazing intently at the Dragon Subduing Arhat before him. Without another word, he turned and ran outside.


    The Dragon Subduing Arhat did not attempt to stop Jiang Liu as he ran into the distance.


    The Corrupting Spirit Poison was not something that could be cured by means from the Mortal World. Regardless of how much he struggled, he had only these forty-nine days left...


    "Amitabha, Arhat, aren''t you afraid this action will provoke a strong bacsh from Xuanzang? Furthermore, considering his identity..." With Jiang Liu gone, the Saint Monk Longhai came in from outside, hands pressed together, his expression tinged with worry.


    Although both the Dragon Subduing Arhat and the Saint Monk Longhai opposed the romantic attachment between Jiang Liu and Gaoyang, the actions of the Dragon Subduing Arhat were indeed too direct and brusque, far from the gentleness of Longhai.


    After all, one should not underestimate Xuanzang''s identity.


    "It''s fine. Xuanzang is just that, not the Golden Cicada. Why fear his grudge?" said the Arhat unconcerned, waving his hand dismissively.


    "Daoji is the Dragon Subduing Arhat, but the Dragon Subduing Arhat is not Daoji; simrly, Xuanzang is the Golden Cicada, but how could the Golden Cicada be Xuanzang?" he continued.


    "Should the daye that he reaches the Great Thunder Monastery of the Western Heaven, obtains the True Scriptures, and achieves enlightenment to be a Buddha, surely the Golden Cicada would thank me for today''s actions, helping him cut off his mortal ties?" he added.


    "Sigh..." Longhai let out a silent sigh.


    Longhai did not agree with the actions of the Dragon Subduing Arhat. Having spent some time with him, Longhai believed he understood Xuanzang''s temperament somewhat: clear about gratitude and grudges, yet still full of youthful vigor.


    The same Xuanzang who had dared to loudly proim his wish to return to secr life during the Incense Offering Ceremony could react unpredictably if pushed to the edge, and no one knew what astonishing things he might do.


    ...


    In the Great Tang Imperial Pce, upon sickbed, Princess Gaoyangy quietly, her face covered with a veil, and Emperor Li Shimin of Tang sat by her side, holding a teacup, his expression serene.


    Yet, the tea in his cup had gone cold without him taking a single sip.


    Within the pce, more than a dozen grey-haired Imperial Physicians all wore expressions of distress. They were all powerless against the poison afflicting the Princess.


    By Gaoyang''s bedside stood a Taoist in his fifties, with the air of an immortal, holding a horsetail whisk in one hand, while the other hand rested on Gaoyang''s fair wrist, silently taking her pulse.


    Visible to the naked eye, on the snow-white and jade-like wrist, a patch of decayed flesh spread slowly in a horrific manner.


    After a long while, the Taoist withdrew his hand and sighed softly.


    "Taoist Yuan, how is Gaoyang''s condition?" asked Li Shimin, setting down his now-cold tea, after seeing the younger Taoistplete his pulse diagnosis.


    "Report!" Before the Taoist could speak, suddenly, a eunuch hurriedly rushed in.


    "Your Majesty, Master Xuanzang requests to see Her Highness the Princess."

 Chapter 69 Heaven and Earth Tremble

    "Master Xuanzang? What is he here for? Do not see him!" upon hearing the eunuch''s words, Emperor Li Shimin''s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he waved his hand and spoke.


    What of the twelve Scar of Precepts? What of the reincarnation of the legendary Bodhisattva?


    If not for him, how would Gaoyang have ended up in such a state?


    As the Emperor of Great Tang, within the borders of Great Tang, there was truly little that Li Shimin wished to know that could be hidden from him.


    When Elder Sword initially brought Gaoyang back, how could he not have reported her association with Jiang Liu to Li Shimin?


    Before the Incense Offering Ceremony, there appeared to be some affection between Xuanzang and Gaoyang, which Li Shimin was aware of. After the ceremony, as Gaoyang became increasingly sullen, Li Shimin saw it even more clearly.


    Later, when Saint Monk Longhai came with Xuanzang, Li Shimin assumed he was there topletely sever ties with Gaoyang, so he turned a blind eye...N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, it was unexpected that as a monk who was supposed to be pure in all six senses and rightfully entered the Buddhist Sect, he actually abducted his own daughter.


    If not for the trouble brought upon her by this disciple of the Buddhist Sect with twelve Scar of Precepts, how would Gaoyang have been poisoned so severely?


    Hence, despite being aware of Master Xuanzang''s status, his deep love for his daughter filled his heart with anger towards the monk and in his grief, he saw no need to show respect to the Buddhist Sect.


    "Father... Father Emperor... I want to see him..." However, as Li Shimin finished speaking, Gaoyang, lying in the bed beside him, awoke and spoke with a frail breath.


    "Gaoyang, you..." Seeing Gaoyang awaken, Li Shimin stepped forward, his expressionplex.


    His heart ached for her poisoning, yet he was infuriated that, even in this condition, she had not forgotten that monk.


    Feeling both angry and helpless, Li Shimin''s displeasure towards Jiang Liu grew even stronger.


    "Father Emperor, I know... this Corrupting Spirit Poison is capable of killing deities in the heavens. I... I suppose I don''t have many days left, do I?" Gaoyang, with her face veiled, spoke weakly.


    "Sigh..." Li Shimin let out a deep, sorrowful sigh in his heart and then made a discreet gesture to the eunuch beside him.


    The eunuch, understanding the situation, discreetly left, bringing Jiang Liu into the room.


    "Hmph," Li Shimin huffed softly upon seeing Jiang Liu enter, then promptly left with the Imperial Physicians and Yuan Tiangang among others to a side hall to discuss the antidote.


    Despite his vexation, he still granted these two young people a private space to be alone.


    "Jiang Liu, I''m sorry, I might not be able to apany you anymore," Gaoyang struggled to sit up from the bed, sighing softly as she spoke.


    "No, I will not let you die," Jiang Liu quickly approached the bed, helped Gaoyang sit up, and spoke earnestly.


    "These days of seclusion with you have been my happiest. It''s just a pity that fate has made a fool of me," Gaoyang leaned gently on Jiang Liu''s shoulder, her voice low and weak.


    "Fate? Haha, I''ve said before..." However, this sentence only invoked a scornfulugh in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    Even though the Dragon Subduing Arhat didn''t admit it back at the Great Buddha Temple, Jiang Liu still felt that it was very likely a deliberate act by the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    That is, the thing he had been worried about still happened; the Buddhist Sect would not allow him to live in seclusion, abandoning the great cause of the Westward Journey.


    Yet before Jiang Liu could finish his words, Gaoyang ced a hand over his lips and shook her head slightly, saying, "Stop, I understand it all. But as I''ve said before, I have no regrets."


    After stopping Jiang Liu''s forting words, Gaoyang continued to lean gently on his shoulder, whispering, "I don''t have much time left. I just want to have a quiet chat with you, okay?"


    "You foresaw today''s oue, but I also made my choice back then, so I don''t have regrets. Living in that small vige was the happiest time of my life."


    "If I pass away and you miss me, remember to visit my grave, but, remember not to bring any other girls there. Without me holding you back, you will surely be a revered saint of the Buddhist Sect, and shouldn''t get involved with any other girls."


    "I just feel a bit regretful, that since meeting you, you were the one who cooked for me, and I never fulfilled my responsibilities as a woman. If there''s another life, I wish to spend every day by the stove for you... "


    Jiang Liu, gently cradling Gaoyang in his arms, listened to her feeble and murmuring words that sounded like ast will; he didn''t speak, but listened silently.


    Perhaps talking tired her out, or maybe the poison was taking effect¡ªafter speaking softly for a while, Gaoyang fell back into a deep sleep.


    Jiang Liu gentlyid her down on the bed, his face calm as he watched the corruption spread across the young girl''s skin.


    After a moment of silence, he spoke softly and determinedly, "Gaoyang, don''t worry. I will fulfill the promise I made to you. I said I would marry you with honor and, should cmity befall us, we would face it together. I said, I will not let you die!"


    Having said this, it seemed as if Jiang Liu had made a significant decision. His expression resolute, he turned and left the grand hall.


    In the side hall, the Emperor of Tang, Li Shimin''s face was grave as water, The Imperial Physicians by his side dared not even breathe too loudly, and Taoist priest Yuan Tiangang was shaking his head and sighing, the atmosphere heavy.


    This Corrupting Spirit Poison, said to be capable of killing even the immortals in heaven, indeed seemed beyond the power of mortals to cure.


    "Your Majesty...", entering the side hall and catching the expressions of those present, Jiang Liu understood the situation and walked straight to Li Shimin''s side, bowing his head in greeting.


    Casting a nce at Jiang Liu standing before him, Li Shimin did not respond, his expression indifferent.


    Lacking surprise at Li Shimin''s indifference, Jiang Liu spoke out, his words as shocking as a p of thunder, "I have a request. I hope Your Majesty will grant me Princess Gaoyang''s hand in marriage."


    As soon as these words were uttered, they struck like thunder, causing everyone in the side hall to be dumbstruck. The surrounding Imperial Physicians looked at Jiang Liu in disbelief, and even Taoist priest Yuan Tiangang''s eyes widened in shock.


    The normally detached Li Shimin, upon hearing Jiang Liu''s words, was also stunned, hardly believing his own ears.


    "What did you say? You wish to marry Gaoyang?"


    "Yes, I hope Your Majesty will consent," Jiang Liu said, his expression resolute as he nodded firmly.


    "Do you realize? Speaking such words with your status will cause a tremendous stir!"


    "I know!" Discover more stories at empire


    "Do you understand? Gaoyang''s life will notst much longer?"


    "I know!"


    "Do you realize? As a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, you are, ording to the rules, not permitted to marry?"


    "I know!"


    ...


    With each sessive question, Jiang Liu''s resolute answers caused Li Shimin to regard him seriously.


    Initially, Li Shimin was very angry with Jiang Liu, but now, seeing his readiness to forsake his own future for the sake of these words, Li Shimin could clearly sense his feelings for Gaoyang.


    Li Shimin''s gaze at Jiang Liu shifted from indifference and anger to a gradual softening.


    "Xuanzang, you...", Li Shimin reached out and gently patted Jiang Liu on the shoulder, his words filled with profound meaning.


    "Please call me Jiang Liu, Your Majesty," Jiang Liu said, removing the Vidyaraja Crown from his head and cing it aside as he corrected.


    Xuanzang was his monastic name, while Jiang Liu was his secr name.


    "Jiang Liu, why do you trouble yourself with this? I understand your feelings for Gaoyang, but I cannot agree, and I believe Gaoyang would not agree either. You have your own future; there is no need to make such a decision in a moment of passion. Knowing that you could express these sentiments is already veryforting to me as Gaoyang''s father," Li Shimin spoke, his words conclusive.


    After finishing, Li Shimin looked around at everyone present and dered in a serious tone, "Regarding what Master Xuanzang has said today, I do not wish for anyone to spread it."


    "We shall obey the Imperial Decree," the pce maids, eunuchs, Imperial Physicians, and others echoed in unison.


    Hearing what the Emperor of Tang had said, Jiang Liu spoke loudly, "No, Your Majesty, I am serious. I swear to heaven that today I am willing to take Princess Gaoyang as my wife, in life and death, never to..."


    Crack!


    Between heaven and earth, thunder roared, startling everyone, the sun and moon darkened, as even the sky turned gloomy.


    At that moment, it seemed as if even the heavens were raging, with countlessmon people kneeling in fear.

 Chapter 70 The Domineering Aura of the Human Emperor

    In a corner of the Immortal Realm, a white mouse transformed into a human figure, a woman of unparalleled beauty, kneeled on the ground, her head knocking against it like pounding garlic: "Spare me, please spare me, Superior Immortals, this little demon knows her mistake, she knows"


    "Hmph, you White-Furred Rat Spirit, dare to steal the Tathagata''s fragrant flowers and precious candles, how can my son and I spare your life?" a middle-aged man with a long beard said sternly, holding a golden pagoda in his hand.


    Next to the man, a delicately featured boy, rode upon wind-fire wheels and wielded a fire-tip spear.


    These two were none other than Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and Nezha.


    Boom!


    Just then, heaven and earth shook, sounds of heavenly thunder echoed, halting Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and Nezha in their tracks.


    After silently utilizing his divine skills to investigate, Nezha''s delicate and youthful face showed a touch of shock: "Master Xuanzang, the reincarnation of Master Golden Cicada, is actually going to marry the daughter of Emperor Li Shimin? s, the life of the Emperor''s daughter hangs by a thread, and yet he seeks to tie himself into a knot.


    I really don''t understand, can the love between a man and a woman truly make one forget life and death?"


    The White-Furred Rat Spirit, crawling on the ground, dared not speak a word, but she couldn''t help but remember in her heart this man so deeply in love.


    ...


    "s, Chang''e should regret stealing the elixir, for now her heart aches in the clear blue sea and sky every night? Little did I expect that Master Xuanzang would be such a man of deep affection, such a pity," Fairy Chang''e murmured to herself in the Guanghan Pce within the Moon Pce, gently stroking a Jade Rabbit in her arms, her tone sorrowful and her eyes lost in thought.


    In Chang''e''s arms, the Jade Rabbit''s eyes were bright and vivacious.


    ...


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    In the Western Heaven, at the Great Thunder Monastery.


    With the trembling of heaven and earth and the roaring of heavenly thunder, the Tathagata ceased his scriptural discourse, his gaze deep and seemingly transcending time and space.


    The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at the Great Thunder Monastery also sensed the anomaly; silently using their divine skills to divine, their faces showed varying degrees of surprise.


    "Tathagata, it is myck of ability that caused this, never did I imagine that in this life, Master Golden Cicada would harbor such deep affection for Gaoyang," Bodhisattva Guanyin, from beneath the Tathagata''s seat, rose to admit fault upon understanding the situation.


    "Great Bodhisattva Guanyin, there is no need to me yourself; such minor idents are trivial," the Tathagata said serenely, shaking his head slightly.


    After a brief pause, the Tathagata continued: "However, Dragon Subduing did indeed act impulsively; I request that Great Bodhisattva Guanyin make a trip. It is time for the Journey to the West tomence."


    "I shall follow Buddha''s decree," Guanyin nodded slightly and turned away, transforming into a beam of Buddhist light and vanishing.


    With the Tathagata''s decree, Guanyin departed, and the Great Thunder Monastery returned to its usual tranquility.


    However, in a corner next to the Great Thunder Monastery, a tiny scorpion crawled by.


    ...


    The three realms were in upheaval. The matter of the Journey to the West was ayout by the Immortals and Buddhas, arguably the most important event currently across the three realms and six paths. Xuanzang, as the core of the Journey to the West, was indeed a person of destiny.


    His vow to heaven naturally elicited a response from the Heavenly Dao, and as such, it shook the entire three realms and six paths.


    The Immortal Realm, Buddhist Realm, and even the demons had varied reactions to this event¡ªsome admired, some were distressed, and some found itughable...


    Let alone the attitudes of the superior beings among the immortals and buddhas towards this event, at this time in the Great Buddha Temple, the face of the Dragon Subduing Arhat drastically changed, turning very ugly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    There was anger, regret, and fear.


    The Dragon Subduing Arhat was of course aware of the Journey to the West for scriptures, and he understood even more the significance of this event for the entire Buddhist Realm. Now, because of his own doing, Xuanzang had actually made a vow to heaven to take a mortal woman as his wife?


    Could it be that I have be a sinner of the Buddhist Sect?


    Not only am I not redressing my faults with merits, but am I actuallypounding my sins?


    As a Buddhist disciple with the twelve Scars of Precepts, how dare I swear an oath to the heavens? To utter such words? How utterly insane is this?


    "No, this must not happen, otherwise, I''ll truly be the eternal sinner of the Buddhist Sect," shocked, the Dragon Subduing Arhat quickly moved his form and flew towards the Imperial Pce.


    At all costs, I must prevent this catastrophe. If not, the reputation of the Buddhist Sect will be tarnished, and as the chief culprit, the consequences are unfathomable.


    "s, had I known this day woulde, why did I ever begin?" Saint Monk Longhai watched the terrified figure of the Dragon Subduing Arhat fleeing and sighed to himself.


    I had carefully stabilized Master Xuanzang these past days, yet still, I ended up in this predicament.


    As the Dragon Subduing Arhat soared across the sky, he could see the entire sky filled with dark, oppressive clouds, continuously punctuated by the roar of thunder.


    From his vantage point, he could see countlessmon people prostrating on the ground.


    Descending from above, the Dragon Subduing Arhat arrived at the Imperial Pce in no time, yelling out, "No!"


    "Emperor of Tang," the Dragon Subduing Arhat approached Li Shimin with an urgent expression, where was the dignity of the resolute Dragon Subduing Arhat now? He spoke hastily, "Master Xuanzang bears a sacred mission for our Buddhist Sect, he is of utmost importance to us, he cannot marry."


    No sooner had he spoken than the Dragon Subduing Arhat, not waiting for the Emperor''s response, raised his hand and reached for Jiang Liu: "Xuanzang, your mind is lost to delusion, spouting nonsense,e back with me to the Great Buddha Temple to repent and recite sutras."


    "Arhat!" However, as the Dragon Subduing Arhat made his move, Emperor Li Shimin stepped forward, cing himself in front of Jiang Liu, and countered him with a direct gaze, "I must remind the Arhat, this ce is the Human Realm, not your Western Spirit Mountain!"


    "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, Your Majesty is the Human Emperor, what do you intend, Dragon Subduing Arhat?" At the same time, Yuan Tiangang also stepped forward and stared at the Dragon Subduing Arhat, questioning him.


    Confronted by Emperor Li Shimin blocking his way, the Dragon Subduing Arhat dared not make his move.


    In the three realms and six paths, though Li Shimin is but a mortal, he is known as the Human Emperor, and the protagonist of this world is the Human n!


    Emperor Li Shimin could be said to hold a major part of the Human n''s destiny, who would dare to harm him?


    "Emperor of Tang, with such defiance of the heavenly ways, the heavens will surely bring disaster!" Staring earnestly at Li Shimin, unable to take action, the Dragon Subduing Arhat can only leave these harsh words before turning away and leaving the Imperial Pce.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Seeing that Li Shimin had stood up to block the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu sincerely expressed his gratitude.


    He was acutely aware of the pressure on the Emperor for opposing the deities and immortals.


    "There''s no need to thank me. As for your request to marry, I cannot grant it, but for thesest days, you should stay well within the pce..." Shaking his head slightly, Li Shimin sighed and then turned to leave.


    With the Emperor gone, naturally, the Imperial Physicians also departed one after another.


    "Master Xuanzang, you are indeed admirable," but, before leaving, Yuan Tiangang looked at Jiang Liu earnestly, nodded, and said.


    What he meant by that, he did not borate further, leaving just those words before turning to leave as well.


    With no mind to ponder further, Jiang Liu lowered his head and returned to Gaoyang''s bedside, looking at the skin on her hands, the decay had spread a little further, filling him with heartache.


    "Now that things havee to this pass, what can I do to save her?" Holding Gaoyang''s hands in his, Jiang Liu murmured to himself, his mind searching for solutions.


    No matter what, Gaoyang must not die!

 Chapter 71 Natural Disaster? Or Man-Made Calamity?

    Chang''an City, Great Buddha Temple.


    "What should we do? What do we do now?" The Dragon Subduing Arhat was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth ceaselessly, feeling utterly without a clue.


    The Buddha had ordered him to descend to the Lower Realm to guide Master Golden Cicada''s reincarnation onto the path of the Journey to the West for Scriptures, but he had not expected to find himself in the current situation.


    If Xuanzang were truly to proceed with a wedding ceremony in broad daylight, then even if he were to embark on the Journey to the West for Scripturester on, it would still be a huge stain on the reputation of the Buddhist Sect.


    At such a time, who would bear the responsibility?


    As Master Golden Cicada was Buddha''s second disciple, should he seed in his scripture seeking, he was sure to be a Buddha¡ªa tremendous merit. Would he be held responsible?


    In the end, wouldn''t the responsibility still fall on his shoulders?


    The development of events hadpletely exceeded Dragon Subduing''s expectations; no one thought that Xuanzang, a disciple with the twelve Scar of Precepts, would go so far as to swear to the heavens his intention to take a wife.


    What was even more unexpected was that when he forcefully tried to bring Xuanzang back¡ªan internal matter of the Buddhist Sect¡ªthe Human Emperor would actually step forward to protect him.


    At this moment, the heart of Dragon Subduing Arhat was utterly devoid of ideas, not knowing what to do next.


    "Amitabha, Dragon Subduing, the matter at hand has alreadye to the attention of myself and the Buddha..." Just as Dragon Subduing was antsy as an ant on a hot pan, uncertain of what to do, suddenly, a voice reverberated from within the Zen Room as the Buddhist Light shone brilliantly.


    "Bodhisattva Guanyin, Dragon Subduing is at fault and awaits your punishment..." Hearing this voice, Dragon Subduing clearly recognized who the owner of the voice was and readily admitted his error.


    "Leave the handling of what follows to me, and you return to Spirit Mountain," Guanyin Bodhisattva said, without further discussion or pleasantries. As her voice faded, the Buddhist Light within the Zen Room quickly dissipated.


    As for the Dragon Subduing Arhat, his expression was dejected.


    He was well aware that he had botched the situation and was now being sent back to Spirit Mountain, obviously to receive his punishment, stripped of any chance to redeem himself through merit.


    ...


    With the dawn rising in the east, the crowing rooster hailed the morning.


    In a small mountain vige a few hundred miles from Chang''an City, an eerie silence pervaded. Ever since Jiang Liu and Princess Gaoyang chose to live incognito in this vige, they had been attacked by bandits. Although these bandits were eventually executed, many vigers died as well.


    This was naturally a heavy blow for the small mountain vige with only a few dozen households.


    Yet, as the departed are gone, the survivors must continue their lives, mustn''t they?


    Following the rooster''s crow, the vigers began to awaken one by one, freshening up, and an old man in his sixtieth year, hunched over, made his way to his own farm.


    Considering the time of year, the crops in the field were almost ready for harvest. It was best to check on their growth first and then decide on a harvesting date.


    However, when the old man arrived at the edge of his field, he was struck as if by lightning, shocked to stillness.


    The field was in ruins: swarming locusts were everywhere, devouring nearly all the crops he had nted.


    Gazing into the distance, he saw swarms of locusts flying by in droves, resembling dark clouds.


    "It''s... it''s all over... all gone," the old man murmured in a low voice as he confronted the scene, his eyes almost filled with despair at the sight of this once-in-a-century locust gue. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    For the vigers, the harvest from the fields represented the basis of life for their families. Without it, they faced death.


    Inside the Imperial Pce of Chang''an City.


    As much as the situation with Princess Gaoyang was distressing, Li Shimin, ruling as the sovereign of a nation, still prioritized matters concerning the state of Great Tang.


    Yet today, devastating news arrived of an unprecedented and extensive locust gue sweeping across the sky and earth, with reports of the disaster emerging from every quarter, sending a grave expression across the faces of all the courtiers.


    "Your Majesty, now that the locust gue has begun to rise, if we do not devise a countermeasure, the realm will be in turmoil, and the people will find no peace," cried one of the elder ministers in the main hall.


    "For no apparent reason, how did this locust gue just arise? Before this, there really wasn''t any sign at all," Li Shimin muttered to himself as he sat on the dragon throne.


    Though disasters are terrifying, it''s those thate without warning, pressing down like toppling mountains and copsing pirs, that leave one utterly defenseless, and are thus even more frightful.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As the ruler of a nation, even if internally he felt caught off guard, he couldn''t show it outwardly, and forced himself to remain calm.


    Aware of the consequences the locust gue could bring, Li Shimin could only issue the corresponding orders to cope with its arrival, trying to minimize the disaster as much as possible.


    However, asmands were issued one by one, and all the civil and military officials sprang into action, striving tobat the locust gue, Li Shimin''s mind suddenly recalled the words previously spoken by the Dragon Subduing Arhat.


    At that time, the Dragon Subduing Arhat said that for acting against the heavens, a disaster would surelye!


    "Alright, the court is dismissed," Li Shimin dered once the orders had been given, and there were no other important matters to discuss, and he dismissed the court, urging the ministers to take swift action.


    Yet, upon returning to his private quarters after the court was dismissed, Li Shimin quickly summoned Taoist Yuan Tiangang.


    "Taoist Yuan..." Upon seeing Yuan Tiangang arrive, Li Shimin offered him a seat and then began to speak.


    "This humble Taoist knows what Your Majesty wishes to ask."


    But before Li Shimin could even voice his inquiry, Yuan Tiangang took the initiative, saying, "This particr locust gue is indeed strange. Before its arrival, I already conducted a divination, and even after praying and offering incense, I received a directive from the immortals above."


    "Oh? What are the findings? What''s the cause of this locust gue, and what guidance did the immortals provide?" Li Shimin asked urgently, upon hearing Yuan Tiangang''s words.


    "As the Dragon Subduing Arhat had said, whether it''s my divination or the guidance from the immortals above, the conclusion is the same. Your Majesty''s actions have defied the Heavenly Dao, thus heaven is enraged and has sent down this natural disaster as punishment.


    A few days ago, when Master Xuanzang swore an oath to the heavens, there was a warning through the thunderous sound of Heavenly Dao..."


    "Defying the heavens? Was it truly defying the heavens? So the words of the Dragon Subduing Arhat that day weren''t just rmist talk?" Hearing this, Li Shimin was left stunned.


    No matter how powerful the Buddha and Bodhisattvas are, nor how great the influence of the Buddhist forces, they can''t represent the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, Li Shimin took the words of the Dragon Subduing Arhat that day as mere rmist talk, not taking them to heart.


    But today, could it truly be a punishment from the heavens?


    What mission does Master Xuanzang bear that even the heavens are so angered? To the extent of afflicting Great Tang with disaster?


    "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, Your Majesty, now that the root cause is clear, you must make a decision, otherwise, it won''t be just the locust gue¡ªfloods and epidemics will follow one after another," Yuan Tiangang cautioned in a low voice.


    The people of Great Tang number not only in the millions; with each passing day, the damage to the entire nation grows greater.


    As the ruler of a nation, once Li Shimin understood the root of the matter, he naturally had to make a decision sooner rather thanter.


    In Gaoyang''s sleeping quarters, Jiang Liu looked listless, but his eyes were firmly fixed on the young girl lying on the bed.


    Almost a month had passed, and the rotting on Gaoyang''s body had only continued to spread, with an even foul stench emanating from her.


    Lately, she had mostly been in aatose state, the time she could awaken and talk to him growing ever more scarce.


    During these days, Jiang Liu had tried every possible remedy.


    The Guanyin Mantra and the healing potion had no effect, and they couldn''t even slow the spread of the poison.


    He had even cut himself to feed her his blood since his flesh could grant longevity, wondering if it could have some effect?


    With the thought of grabbing at straws, he tried it, but still, there was no improvement. His own flesh could grant longevity, but it couldn''t make someone immortal.


    In recent days, he could often hear pce maids weeping softly, clearly distressed and saddened by Gaoyang''s nearly wholly decayed appearance.


    "It seems I can only take one final gamble?" he reflected, sighing deeply as he gazed at Gaoyang, who was almostpletely rotted away, her breath weak as a thread.

 Chapter 72 Imperial Brother

    The locust gue erupted, and countless people fled to distant ces, with disaster victims scrambling everywhere to find a way to survive.


    However, in all of Great Tang, half of the territory had fallen victim to the locust gue. Where could one find a path to life?


    Bodies littered the ground everywhere, and in just about half a month, Great Tang had presented a scene of decay. Thousands desperately starved to death, and hundreds of thousands of disaster victims fled everywhere, no matter what measures the Imperial Court issued for disaster relief and soothing the people; it was all like a drop of water in a cart of hay.


    This locust gue, swiftly spreading everywhere, caused damage that continued to spread. It was contained here but not there.


    In just about half a month, from Emperor Li Shimin down to the civil and military officials, everyone was extremely busy but achieved very little.


    That day, Emperor Li Shimin instructed Yuan Tiangang to hold a grand ceremony to pray to heaven, ordering the civil and military officials to participate, to pray to heaven and bless the masses, topletely resolve the difficulties of the locust gue.


    The news spread, providing a glimmer of hope to the people in their desperation.


    In just one day, all the preparations needed for the praying ceremony had been made. Under the eager watch of countless people, the ceremony officially began with the Imperial Army clearing the way, and the civil and military officials arrived in full.


    "Master Xuanzang, the Emperor has asked you to participate in the praying ceremony, and you''re going like this?" Inside the Imperial Pce, Jiang Liu was also ready, but a Pce Maid, seeing Jiang Liu''s appearance, paused in bewilderment.


    Jiang Liu''s face was clean-shaven, yet he wore a long white robe, without the Vidyaraja Crown on his head or Buddha Beads around his neck. He wasn''t even wearing monk robes and walked barefoot. He didn''t look like a monk but rather like someone who had abandoned the righteous path.


    "Gaoyang, I will go out ande back soon," Jiang Liu gently bowed and spoke softly to Gaoyang, who was lying on the bed.


    With breath as thin as a thread, Gaoyang hadn''t awakened for two days and was naturally unable to respond.


    As his words fell, he instructed the Pce Maid to take good care of Gaoyang, then Jiang Liu turned and stepped out.


    "Master Xuanzang, please follow me," outside the Pce, several guards had already been waiting. Seeing Jiang Liu in a long robe and walking barefoot, they too paused in surprise, but they didn''t ask further, only lowering their heads and speaking respectfully.


    Since the day Jiang Liu had boldly proimed his intention to marry the Princess, it had been almost a month now, and naturally, this matter spread throughout Great Tang like a whirlwind.


    Although many people thought that as a Buddhist disciple marked with the twelve scars of precepts, Jiang Liu shouldn''t have said such things, it was undeniable that his words garnered much admiration from numerous people.


    Especially women, who found it even more touching.


    Although Princess Gaoyang''s life was nearing its end, in many women''s views, to have met a man who truly loved her in her life, even if he was a monk, was a blessing.


    Under the escort of several guards, Jiang Liu soon arrived at the site of the praying ceremony.


    Since this ceremony was being held for the welfare of the people of Great Tang, it wasn''t hidden within the inner depths of the Pce but was set up outside, naturally attracting almost all the residents of Chang''an City.


    As Jiang Liu arrived, all the way along, countless people looked at him withplex emotions¡ªdisgust, respect, and admiration...


    Jiang Liu paid no mind to these gazes and just quietly walked forward, with guards clearing the way for him.


    "Master Xuanzang, please wait here," once Jiang Liu had arrived, the praying ceremony had already officially begun. The guard asked Jiang Liu to wait on the side.


    Emperor Li Shimin, d in his Imperial Robe, loudly recited the prayer with a resonant voice.


    "I ammissioned by heaven, to shepherd and hunt on behalf of heaven among the children of this world, diligently and tirelessly," he dered.


    Jiang Liu stood among the crowd, quietly listening.


    The earlier part of Li Shimin''s prayer primarily narrated his hard work as the Emperor, shepherding the masses, and the peace and joy of the people in Great Tang over the years.


    Although the speech was beautifully crafted, the achievements Li Shimin spoke of over the years weren''t exaggerated.


    Then, the prayer shifted towardsmenting the current locust gue and its dreadful hazards.


    "If indeed it is my misconduct, acting against heaven, that has brought about such a disaster, I implore the heavens to inflict the disaster upon me alone. As the ruler of the masses, the Emperor of the Human n, I am willing to bear it alone. May the locusts devour my internal organs and spare the children of this world from further harm," he dered.


    At the end of it, Li Shimin cried out loudly, and amid his shout, guards presented several lively locusts.


    Li Shimin grabbed them and swallowed them whole.


    "Your Majesty is merciful!" one could not help but say, finding Li Shimin''s words and actions profoundly impactful. His heartfelt plea to heaven, filled with generosity and sorrow, demonstrated his resolve to bear this disaster for all people.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Watching him swallow the locusts whole, the surrounding popce was genuinely moved and knelt down unanimously in loud acim.


    "Li Shimin truly deserves the title of a sage emperor, though this is a mythological world and not actual history," they said.


    Standing below the Praying to Heaven tform, Jiang Liu quietly watched all that Li Shimin did and nodded in approval internally.


    Swallowing locusts whole was not something just anyone could aplish in these times.


    With the prayer to heavenplete, by all ounts, this grand ceremony should have officially concluded.


    As the Human Emperor, Li Shimin had formally prayed to the heavens, and whether the locust gue would recede was now up to the divine will.


    However, Li Shimin showed no signs of concluding the event and nodded at a eunuch by his side.


    Following Li Shimin''s signal, the eunuch stepped forward, looked around at the people, and called out in a shrill voice, "The Praying to Heaven ceremony isplete! May the heavens bless our Great Tang with evesting continuity. Nevertheless, today, His Majesty the Emperor has a new decree to announce to all!"


    The eunuch''s words left the surrounding popce exchanging nces in surprise, and even the civil and military officials were astounded.


    After the Praying to Heaven ceremony, the Emperor had more news to dere, unknown to both officials and themon folk alike.


    As the eunuch spoke, he drew a resplendent Imperial Decree from within his robe and unfolded it slowly, saying, "By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Recently, Holy Monk Xuanzang, deeply rooted in Buddhist faith, has been marked with twelve Scar of Precepts, unprecedented till now, and is also known for his firm disposition and his deep sense of loyalty and righteousness.


    I wish to be sworn brothers with Master Xuanzang¡­"


    Boom!


    This decree sent a shock through the entire assembly, leaving both officials and schrs in uproar.


    Nobody had anticipated that the Emperor would suddenly issue such a decree.


    Ever since Jiang Liu vowed to the skies, who didn''t know that Master Xuanzang had wanted to marry Princess Gaoyang? It was only that this request had been previously denied by His Majesty the Emperor.


    Who would have thought that at this moment, he would issue a decree to be sworn brothers with Master Xuanzang?


    In doing so, wouldn''t the generational ranking between Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang be shifted by an entire generation?


    "So is this how it is?" Upon hearing this decree suddenly, Jiang Liu was also surprised but not taken aback, as he knew from the original text about the Imperial Brother''s identity. More so, putting himself in Li Shimin''s position, Jiang Liu could understand his decision.


    The locust gue had arisen as a divine punishment for neglecting the task of the Westward Journey in favor of matrimony.


    To eradicate the locust gue was not something that could be achieved by Li Shimin''s mere prayer and plea to heaven, the main reasony in himself.


    Today, by issuing an Imperial Decree making himself sworn brothers with him, Li Shimin also effectively severed any possibility of his marrying Princess Gaoyang¡­


    Thundering rolls!


    The sound of thunder resonated, the earth-quaking, evidently showing divine approval of Li Shimin''s intentions.


    "From this day forth, seeing the Imperial Brother is as good as seeing me," Li Shimin announced, his clear voice spreading in all directions.


    "Greetings to Imperial Brother, Master Xuanzang!" Following the deration, both the civil and military officials and all the people knelt and saluted towards Jiang Liu, shouting in unison.


    Continue your adventure with empire


    Yet, quietly observing everything, Jiang Liu, now bearing the dual identity of Holy Monk Xuanzang and Imperial Brother, revered above all, received the kneeling salutes of all people and officials, but his heart held no joy.

 Chapter 73 Saving People

    Li Shimin had sworn brotherhood with himself to break off his rtionship with Gaoyang, and Jiang Liu was very clear on this.


    From a personal emotional standpoint, Jiang Liu was naturally reluctant, yet these words remained unspoken.


    From Li Shimin''s perspective, he had already done very well; he was not only a father but more importantly, he was an Emperor of a nation and had to be responsible for all his subjects.


    Moreover, due to his own reasons, locust gues had arisen, and the people could barely survive, which made Jiang Liu feel extremely guilty.


    The so-called Heavenly Dao is supremely fair, impartial in all things; yet, it is also like a ruthless and unrighteous knife!


    Li Shimin, standing on the Praying to Heaven tform, watched Jiang Liu quietly. In these days, he had tried everything to save Gaoyang, but to no avail; in Li Shimin''s view, Gaoyang was undoubtedly doomed.


    He had taken Master Xuanzang as his Imperial Brother, which did not truly harm him, yet it could save them from this unprecedented locust gue. This was the best solution he could think of.


    Of course, if there were even a sliver of hope for Gaoyang''s survival, Li Shimin might feel a tad guilty about forcibly separating the couple.


    "Thank you for your tremendous favor, Your Majesty!" Jiang Liu also watched Li Shimin quietly and, after a moment of silence, bowed deeply to him.


    After leaving behind these words, Jiang Liu turned around, walked barefoot, and left the ceremony site of the Praying to Heaven ritual.


    The officials and citizens, who had knelt down and watched as Jiang Liu merely uttered a lukewarm thank-you before turning and leaving, exchanged bewildered looks.


    This behavior clearly disyed dissatisfaction with the Emperor, didn''t it?


    Some military officials had already ced their hands on the hilts of their swords, their gazes fixed on the Emperor, ready to leap forward at the Emperor''smand and arrest this traitor who disrespected imperial authority.


    No matter what about being a Holy Monk with the Scar of Precepts, within the borders of Great Tang, the Emperor''s word wasw.


    "s..." Watching Jiang Liu''s retreating figure, Li Shimin did not show any signs of anger but merely sighed inwardly; he could naturally understand the dissatisfaction in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    Logically, Jiang Liu had not resisted the identity of Imperial Brother, but emotionally, he was very resistant to it. Not refusing in front of everyone was already the greatest extent of restraint he had shown.


    Otherwise, considering his audacity to swear to heaven and marry Gaoyang, who knew what he might have done?


    "Alright, everyone go back," the event hade to an end, and the Praying to Heaven ceremony had concluded smoothly, Li Shimin saidnguidly. Under the eunuch''s announcement, he got on the Dragon Chariot and headed back to the pce, and the officials and citizens dispersed as well.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The events that took ce during the Praying to Heaven ceremony, the Emperor''s act of mercy, and the fact that he and Master Xuanzang had be sworn brothers spread quickly like a hurricane.


    "s, the heavens toy with us. To have the title of Imperial Brother but not a shred of joy, wealth and fame are but fleeting clouds. Surely, Master Xuanzang''s heart is very bitter?" above in the Moon Pce, Fairy Chang''e quietly held the Jade Rabbit, gently stroking it, her voice ethereal.


    For some reason, ever since the day Master Xuanzang had sworn to heaven, Chang''e had been particrly attentive to the events about to unfold around him.


    "Truly there are remarkable men in this world, Princess Gaoyang, how fortunate yet unfortunate she is¡­" Far from Chang''an, tens of thousands of miles away, inside a divine abode, a colorful peacock transformed into a beautiful woman, her eyes full of pity and emotion.


    "Daughter, what''s wrong?" In Chang''an City, within an official''s household, ever since the Praying to Heaven ceremony, their daughter had stayed in her room, not going out, and even the maids reported that they could hear sobbing from inside. The parents had their guards break into her boudoir.


    "Father, mother, please leave, leave, your daughter is fine¡­" Inside the boudoir, the youngdy bent over the dressing table, sobbing as she spoke.


    "My child, what has happened to you? Why are you crying like this?" Seeing their daughter in this state, inexplicably sobbing, her parents were immensely distressed.


    "It''s nothing, I am not crying for myself, but for Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang. The heavens toy with us, the heavens have been too cruel to Master Xuanzang."


    ...


    Previously, as a Buddhist Disciple with the twelve Scar of Precepts, Master Xuanzang had publicly vowed to take Princess Gaoyang as his wife. This deration spread throughout all realms, and though his behavior seemed insane, women from all realms, whether human, deity, fairy, or demon, were deeply moved.


    This time, having been adopted by Emperor of Tang as his Imperial Brother, he had effectively severed any possibilities with Princess Gaoyang. Hearing Master Xuanzang receiving the prostration of the officials andmon people, and standing in a revered position, he did not reject them but departed with a cold expression.


    This reaction struck a tender spot in the hearts of these women, who empathized deeply with the sorrows of Master Xuanzang.


    If, at this moment, the women of all realms were to vote on who the most infatuated man in the world was, Jiang Liu would undoubtedly receive the highest number of votes and be named the most lovesick man of all realms.


    ...


    Unaware of these things, Jiang Liu was wholly focused on Gaoyang. After leaving the venue of the Praying to Heaven ceremony, he walked barefoot directly back to Gaoyang''s sleeping quarters.


    In another great hall, after returning from the Praying to Heaven ceremony, Li Shimin sat on his throne. Before him, Yuan Tiangang, the old mage, stood quietly performing the Concentration Calction.


    But a momentter, Yuan Tiangang opened his eyes, met Li Shimin''s inquiring gaze, and bowed, "Your Majesty, good news, the locust gue is gradually subsiding and will soon disappearpletely."


    "That''s good, that''s good...", upon hearing Yuan Tiangang''s answer, Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief and rxed, having sessfully halted the locust gue.


    In recent days, the entire court, including the Emperor, had been exhausted by the ordeal of the locust gue.


    "Your Majesty..." However, before Li Shimin could fully rx, suddenly, a pce maid hurriedly ran over.


    "Eh? Are you Princess Gaoyang''s maiden? What''s happened? Is the princess in trouble?" Seeing the pce maid rushing in, Li Shimin tensed again, sitting up straighter, and asked anxiously.


    "Master Xuanzang, he... he has taken the Princess and left...", the pce maid, evidently out of breath from running, stuttered through her words.


    "He has taken Gaoyang?", upon hearing this, Li Shimin abruptly stood up and rushed outside.


    At the gate of the Imperial Pce, Jiang Liu, dressed in white and barefoot, was carrying Gaoyang in his arms, stepping through the pce gates.


    The guards at the gate didn''t dare to stop him, kneeling in salute.


    The Emperor had said, to see the Imperial Brother was as seeing His Majesty himself.


    Without pausing, Jiang Liu continued forward, but many people he passed secretly covered their noses.


    Your journey continues on empire


    Her body almost rotting, Gaoyang was emitting a foul smell, deterring others froming close, but Jiang Liu, holding her in his arms, seemed indifferent even as pus and blood stained his body.


    "Imperial Brother, wait..." In just a short time, Emperor of Tang Li Shimin hastened out, surrounded by numerous guards trailing behind him.


    Jiang Liu paused slightly in his steps but did not turn around or respond.


    "Imperial Brother, where are you going?", smelling the fetid odor, Li Shimin''s heart ached.


    "I am off to save a life," with that, Jiang Liu continued walking away.


    Emperor of Tang Li Shimin stood there, astonished, watching as he carried Gaoyang further away.


    Save a life? He had tried everything to no avail. Where was he going to save her? Who could save her!?

 Chapter 74 The Buddha Shows His Spirit

    Jiang Liu, cradling Gaoyang in his arms, advanced step by step.


    As Jiang Liu passed by, Gaoyang''s entirely decayed body would even stain the robes with pus and blood, which then dripped onto the ground, making the people behind cover their mouths and noses.


    Certainly, such gestures from these people only urred after Jiang Liu had passed; before him, thesemoners would kneel one by one to pay respect and make way.


    The status of the Imperial Brother was supremely noble, and the Emperor of Tang had even decreed for all under heaven: Seeing the Imperial Brother is as seeing Myself.


    "Why could someone who earned twelve Scar of Precepts and became the Imperial Brother, Master Xuanzang, be a fool," a shabbily dressed ruffian, watching Jiang Liu pass by, stood up while covering his mouth and nose, his eyes filled with envy as he sighed to himself.


    If I could be a Holy Monk with twelve Scar of Precepts, if I could be the Imperial Brother, wouldn''t I have whatever I wished, just like calling the wind and summoning the rain? Yet he walks through the city carrying someone on the brink of death, whose body ispletely rotten. How can such a fool receive so much? The scoundrel felt that the heavens were too unjust.


    "s, he''s still just a child..." an elder also stood up from the ground, watching Jiang Liu''s retreating figure, heaving a sigh to himself.


    Others only saw his twelve Scar of Precepts, the unparalleled esteem of the status of Imperial Brother. But to this elder, Master Xuanzang was still a fifteen-year-old child who had to endure such painful separations and death, which made his heart ache.


    Whose grandson is he, whose son is he? If his parents and grandparents back home knew everything that he had experienced, wouldn''t their hearts break?


    "Wuu wuu wuu..." On the balcony of a small pavilion beside the main street, a young girl watching Jiang Liu leaving while holding Gaoyang couldn''t stop her tears from falling, drop by drop.


    They weren''t tears shed for herself, they were indescribable, unfathomable, yet they simply flowed.


    ...


    Along the way, Jiang Liu paid no mind to what thoughts the surroundingmoners harbored; he just held Gaoyang, step by step, his pace neither hurried nor slow.


    Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, Jiang Liu walked the entire way and finally stopped. He raised his head slightly and could see the Great Buddha Temple right in front of him.


    Jiang Liu was in no hurry to enter; returning to the Great Buddha Temple, he felt everything had changed.


    Having spent several months at the Great Buddha Temple before, Jiang Liu did not actually detest everything about it.


    Although the Saint Monk Longhai also opposed hispanionship with Gaoyang, his methods were not harsh. Even when Jiang Liu sought his help, wanting to see Gaoyang once more at the Imperial Pce, Saint Monk Longhai had agreed.


    Moreover, within the Great Buddha Temple, his interactions with Daoji were very harmonious. To be more precise, the bond between Jiang Liu and Daoji was one of life-and-death friendship.


    Otherwise, when Jiang Liu had sought his help, Daoji would not have resolutely chosen to lie for him, deceiving Longhai, to gain two more months of time spent together with Gaoyang.


    But regrettably, after Daoji became Dragon Subduing, he transformedpletely into a different person.


    Daoji was willing toe back and lie to help Jiang Liu and Gaoyang stay together, but Dragon Subduing wished for nothing more than Gaoyang''s swift demise.


    In a sense, with the Dragon Subduing Arhat''s True Spirit Awakening, Daoji was already dead.


    "Master, Master Xuanzang, you, you''ve returned?" at the entrance of the Great Buddha Temple, two monks covered their mouths and noses, looked at Jiang Liu standing at the temple gate in astonishment, and said.


    They had not expected Master Xuanzang to suddenly return to the Great Buddha Temple, and moreover, with Princess Gaoyang, whose body was now fully decayed.


    Without speaking, Jiang Liu entered the Great Buddha Temple holding Gaoyang, heading directly towards the main hall.


    Very soon, Saint Monk Longhai evidently received news of Jiang Liu''s return and came before him.


    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. It''s good that you have returned, but Princess Gaoyang she..." Saint Monk Longhai looked at Jiang Liu and began to speak.


    "I''vee to save Gaoyang," Jiang Liu finally spoke after ncing at Saint Monk Longhai.


    For Longhai, Jiang Liu did not harbor any disgust or dissatisfaction in his heart. On the contrary, all along the way, Longhai had been quite protective of him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This..."


    Jiang Liu''s words left Saint Monk Longhai with a troubled expression on his face. Shaking his head, he said, "Xuanzang, you think too highly of me. Although I am honored as a holy monk, I have no means to cure the Corrupting Spirit Poison".


    "No, holy monk, you misunderstand. I am not seeking your help to save her," replied Jiang Liu, shaking his head at Longhai''s troubled words.


    Without borating much, Jiang Liu looked around and, not yet encountering any obstruction from Dragon Subduing Arhat, asked, "Where is Dragon Subduing? Isn''t he here?"


    "Hmm, since Dragon Subduing Arhat made a trip to the Imperial Pce a few days ago, he left and has not returned," Saint Monk Longhai nodded in response.


    Hearing that Dragon Subduing Arhat had already left, Jiang Liu didn''t probe further; his question had been no more than a casual inquiry. Explore more at empire


    Without any further ado, Jiang Liu continued on his way, carrying Princess Gaoyang towards the grand hall.


    Off to the side, Saint Monk Longhai and the monks from Great Buddha Temple followed behind to see what Jiang Liu would do and how he intended to save Princess Gaoyang.


    Inside the grand hall of Great Buddha Temple stood an imposing and solemn statue of Tathagata, before which countless believers were bowing and praying for blessings.


    But within moments, these people were covering their mouths and noses in astonishment. Where was this fetid odoring from in Great Buddha Temple?


    Jiang Liu, carrying the decaying body of Gaoyang, entered the grand hall and then walked straight to the Tathagata Statue. After looking up at the statue for a long moment, he gently ced Gaoyang down, bowed his head, and knelt before the Buddha.


    The believers in the great hall, upon witnessing this scene, retreated outside the hall with their hands over their mouths and noses, amazed as they watched Master Xuanzang.


    Jiang Liu knelt in silence before the Tathagata Statue.


    Yes, there was only one way to save Gaoyang, and that was through Tathagata himself.


    The Journey to the West was a setup by both Tathagata and the Jade Emperor. Even if the Immortals and Buddhas had the ability to intervene, none would dare offend Tathagata and the Jade Emperor by interfering in this matter.


    Only Tathagata himself could save Gaoyang now.


    The Journey to the West was a vast game of chess, and Jiang Liu believed he was its most critical piece. He was certain that if he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect her, Tathagata could not remain indifferent.


    "Gaoyang, I once promised that even if difficulties were to arise in the future, I would face them with you," Jiang Liu murmured to himself as he knelt before the Buddha.


    Outside the grand hall, all the monks and believers exchanged looks, deeply shocked.


    The affair between Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang had already been known across thend. Yet no one had expected that he would bring Princess Gaoyang before the Buddha. What was he trying to do?


    Boom!


    A distant bell tolled between heaven and earth, and a streak of golden Buddhist Light fell from the Western Heaven into Great Buddha Temple. In an instant, celestial music sounded ethereal, and flowers rained down in chaos.


    Inside the grand hall of Great Buddha Temple, the previously demure Tathagata Statue suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, supremely yang and awe-inspiring, bringing peace to the soul.


    At the same time, the eyelids of the Tathagata Statue lifted, and its lively gaze fixed on Jiang Liu.


    "Ah! The Buddha is manifest!"


    With that, the crowd at the entrance of the grand hall and the believers cried out, all kneeling in unison to worship reverently.


    Moreover, outside of Great Buddha Temple, all the citizens of Chang''an noticed the descent of the Western Heavenly Light. Countless people also knelt down.


    Feeling the extraordinary phenomenon around him, Jiang Liu raised his head and looked straight at the Tathagata Statue without any sign of retreat.


    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, is this worth it?" the Tathagata Statue spoke in humannguage, its voice resounding.


    "It is worth it. I am willing to follow her through life and death..." Jiang Liu replied, gazing resolutely at Tathagata.

 Chapter 75 The Game Between Pawns and Players

    "The bell tolls still must be silenced by the one who rang it."


    This situation was orchestrated by the Tathagata, so only he could resolve it; none of the other Immortals and Buddhas were qualified to intervene.


    Thus, Jiang Liu knew well, that to save Gaoyang, he had to seek Buddha himself.


    However, from the perspective of the Buddhist Realm, they would probably prefer Gaoyang to perish so that he could quickly embark on his Journey to the West. What bargaining chip then did he have to make demands of the Buddha?


    After much deliberation, Jiang Liu felt he had no choice but to use himself as the bargaining chip.


    In times of having nothing, one can only gamble with oneself; it has always been so throughout history.


    "Xuanzang, the affection between men and women is merely minor love. Compared to the vast love for all beings and themon people, that is the greater love. Why should you forsake your own life for such minor feelings? Your destiny should be to cultivate for the great love of the universe and its beings."


    The Tathagata Statue, towering and imposing, spoke in a steady voice, each word resonant as the evening drums and morning bells, profoundly striking.


    "Whether great or minor, all are forms of love. If one could forsake even the minor love of their own children, how could one speak of the greater love of the world? I ask Buddha to save her," Jiang Liu said, looking directly at the Tathagata, each word sincere and earnest.


    "Amitabha..."


    After a slight silence, a golden beam of light emerged before the Tathagata Statue and fell upon Gaoyang. Her form suspended in the air then rapidly shrank to be absorbed into the brow of the statue.


    "This woman has a connection with Buddha, and naturally, I will rescue her. From this day, she shall stay at Spirit Mountain under the mentorship of the Great Bodhisattva Guanyin to practice until a day when you are destined to meet again..." After directly taking Gaoyang away, the Tathagata Statue dered.


    As the voice faded, the brilliant Buddhist Light vanished along with the miraculous phenomena above, and the eyes of the statue gently closed, reverting to a sculpted form.


    Clearly, the Tathagata had departed.


    "Disciple thanks the Buddha! Farewell to Buddha!" Jiang Liu said aloud, bowing his head.


    Since the Buddha had taken Gaoyang away and personally promised to save her, Jiang Liu harbored no doubts that the Tathagata would deceive him about this.


    Firstly, would the leader of Buddhism contradict himself over such a trivial matter? While the matter of Gaoyang was significant for himself, to the Tathagata, it was but a trivial one.


    Moreover, if he were to embark on the Journey to the West in the future, looking at the original stories, Sun Wukong would have many chances to meet Tathagata and Guanyin. If he could not see Gaoyang, wouldn''t that be inexplicable?


    Therefore, Jiang Liu understood that the Buddha agreed to save Gaoyang but kept her at Spirit Mountain just to solidify his resolve for his future journey to the West.


    ...


    In the Western Heaven, at Spirit Mountain, Buddhist Light shed, and Princess Gaoyang, previously decaying, was restored to her original condition and tranquilly fell into a deep sleep.


    "Amitabha, Buddha, is this not detrimental to your reputation?" Since the Buddha hadmanded Princess Gaoyang to follow him in practice, Guanyin naturally had no objections, but looking at Tathagata, she found it difficult toprehend.


    The Journey to the West for Scriptures is a significant matter. If it''s the way it seems, with part of Xuanzang''s reason for traveling west being to find a woman, isn''t that somewhat disgraceful for Buddhism?


    The matter of Gaoyang might be minor, but the dignity of Buddhism is significant.


    "It doesn''t matter..." the Tathagata, manifesting a golden body of eighteen cubits, calmly said, "When Xuanzang truly awakens and transforms into Golden Cicada, if he himself causes the destruction of Gaoyang''s soul, such spections will no longer exist."


    "So that''s how it is..." Hearing the words of the Buddha, Guanyin slightly nodded, her expression showing understanding.


    Daoji is Dragon Subduing, but Dragon Subduing is not Daoji. Once the True Spirit awakens, decades of memoriespared to thousands of years are but minor ripples, hardly influencing, so when the True Spirit awakens, Daoji dies, but alive is Dragon Subduing.


    Simrly, although Xuanzang harbors deep feelings for Gaoyang, moving heaven and earth, if he arrives at Spirit Mountain one day, when his True Spirit awakens, bing Golden Cicada, Xuanzang too naturally dies, and his feelings for Gaoyang will dissipate with the awakening of Golden Cicada.


    Therefore, having Golden Cicada take action would indeed be most appropriate.


    Moreover, keeping Princess Gaoyang at Spirit Mountain would further solidify Xuanzang''s resolve. Such sincere affection would likely deter his heart from any seductive demons along the way.


    It is a convenient arrangement. On the surface, he agreed to save Gaoyang, but in reality, as long as Xuanzang journeys to the West for Scriptures and reaches Western Heaven, both Xuanzang and Gaoyang will be gone, leaving only Golden Cicada.


    For the Buddhist Sect and the Scripture Seeking mission, there is not the slightest adverse effect; this is the Buddha''s intention.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Mortal World, at the Great Buddha Temple, as Princess Gaoyang was taken away by the Tathagata, Jiang Liu slowly got up.


    "Greetings, Holy Monk Xuanzang!" As Jiang Liu turned around, the disciples of the Great Buddha Temple, and even many believers, all bowed to Jiang Liu and loudly called out.


    Especially the disciples of the Great Buddha Temple, who looked at Jiang Liu with even more fervor in their eyes.


    Who is the Tathagata? He is the supreme ruler of the Buddhist Sect, a far and mysterious, untouchable existence.


    Even Saint Monk Longhai was only the abbot of the Great Buddha Temple because he had dreamt of an enlightenment from the Tathagata, therefore bing the highest-ranking monk in the Great Tang.


    But what about Master Xuanzang? He came to seek the Buddha''s help with a woman in his arms, and the Buddha actually manifested!


    Tell me, which monk in the world has the qualifications to make the Buddha manifest and personally save someone? Only Master Xuanzang could do so!


    "Amitabha, I am somewhat tired and need to rest well..." With his palms together, Jiang Liu faced the frenzy and adoration of many monks and believers, yet he disyed no joy, only quietly speaking.


    Naturally, upon hearing Jiang Liu''s request, these monks and believers all stepped aside, allowing Jiang Liu to head straight back to his Zen Room in the Great Buddha Temple and fall asleep immediately.


    These days, with his mind worried about Gaoyang and unable to eat or sleep well, Jiang Liu was indeed very exhausted.


    Now that he had sought the Tathagata''s intervention to save her, at least Gaoyang''s life was no longer in danger, and Jiang Liu could finally be at ease.


    After setting aside his worries, he copsed on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    He slept for a full day and night before waking up, undisturbed by anyone.


    However, lying in bed, Jiang Liu did not rush to get up; instead, he just gazed fixedly at the ceiling, his eyes full of contemtion.


    Indeed, Jiang Liu was no fool. Concerning the Tathagata''s intentions, he could somewhat guess them.


    In the original Journey to the West, upon reaching Western Heaven, there was a part describing the disciples sitting on a bottomless boat, only to see Tang Monk''s corpse floating in the river water, having abandoned his mortal flesh and attained saintliness.


    Jiang Liu had not thought much about this section previously.


    However, following theparisons between Daoji and Dragon Subduing, Jiang Liu understood that in the original scripture-seeking story of Journey to the West, it was Tang Monk who braved hardships for many years, but it was Golden Cicada who eventually attained divinity...


    The path of scripture seeking was undoubtedly one he had to embark on, but Jiang Liu was also aware that once he truly reached Western Heaven, it would be the time when he definitively fell out with Buddhism.


    After all, he had no desire to end up like Golden Cicada!


    Thus, Jiang Liu''s journey to the West was like a high-stakes gamble, betting on strengthening himself enough to stand up to the Buddhist Sect, to grow to the point where he would not be a stepping stone like Golden Cicada!


    The journey to the West was indeed a setup, with the Tathagata naturally acting as the chess master and himself as a piece on the board.


    However, for Jiang Liu, this was also a gamble, a struggle between the chess piece and the chess yer.


    The Tathagata''s set-up was for him to seek scriptures and for Golden Cicada to attain divinity.


    But his own gambit was as a chess piece, growing strong enough to wrestle with the chess master.


    If it came down to a life-or-death struggle, the Tathagata should intervene to save Gaoyang. Jiang Liu had always been clear about this. But why had Jiang Liu waited so long toe?


    It was because Jiang Liu also understood that once he set foot on the path to the West, there would be no way back for either him or Gaoyang!


    If possible, he would never wish to embark on the journey to the West, at least not so soon.


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    The more time he had to grow, the greater his chances of winning this gamble on the journey to the West as a chess piece.


    "It seems that the journey to the West is now inevitable. On this road of a myriad miles, I must strengthen myself by any means necessary, for at the end of this road lies the life and death of both me and Gaoyang..."


    "I must break through this journey to the West! Only then can I save myself!"


    (PS: After nearly two hundred thousand words ofying the groundwork and setting the scene, it''s finally time to get ready for the journey to the West. Have you grown impatient? I might be the most long-winded writer on the theme of Journey to the West...)

 Chapter 76 The Position of the State Preceptor and the Honor of the Holy Monk

    Chang''an City, Imperial Pce.


    Li Shimin was sitting quietly on his throne. Though the locust gue had finally been resolved, a matter of great joy, Li Shimin couldn''t feel happy. His mind kept dwelling on the scene of Xuanzang leaving with Gaoyang.


    "s..." After a long while, Li Shimin sighed deeply in his heart and shook his head silently.


    To the Great Tang, he might be a qualified Emperor, but to Gaoyang, perhaps he wasn''t a qualified father?


    "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Buddha has manifested at the Great Buddha Temple!" Just as Li Shimin was alone, wallowing in his guilt, suddenly, a eunuch hurried in and shouted loudly to him.


    Immortals and Buddhas were always mysterious and revered, and deities like the Tathagata and the Great Jade Emperor were highly exalted. Normally, even the descent of an immortal was enough to cause a sensation, let alone the Tathagata.


    Hearing this, Li Shimin abruptly stood up and rushed out of the hall.


    Indeed, even in the Imperial Pce, and even under the clear, broad daylight, one could see the Buddhist Light descending from the Western Heaven and falling on the Great Buddha Temple, casting otherworldly scenes of ethereal sounds and heavenly flowers scattering, giving an impression of solemnity and peace.


    Witnessing the phenomena at the Great Buddha Temple, an rmed expression appeared on Li Shimin''s face. He immediately ordered someone to hurry to the Great Buddha Temple to investigate.


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    Upon receiving the Emperor''smand, naturally a eunuch quickly made his way to the Great Buddha Temple.


    "Could it be because of Jiang Liu?" As he gazed at the sight of the Great Buddha Temple, Li Shimin suddenly remembered the figure of Jiang Liu leaving with Gaoyang. Wasn''t it in the direction of the Great Buddha Temple?


    To cause such phenomena, just like when he had lit twelve incense scars, who exactly was this Jiang Liu!


    Regarding the life and death of Gaoyang, Li Shimin had initially held no hope at all, not just from the methods of the mortal world, but even his prayers as Emperor to the deities above had garnered no response.


    But now, seeing this scene, hope, as well as unease, began to stir in Li Shimin''s heart.


    Soon, the heavenly phenomena disappeared. After waiting for a moment, the person who had gone to investigate returned, running and kneeling in front of Li Shimin.


    "Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Xuanzang prostrated before the Buddha and requested the manifestation of the Tathagata, who responded to Master Xuanzang''s prayers and has taken away Princess Gaoyang, saying she is to follow Guanyin Bodhisattva in her cultivation," the eunuch kneeling before Li Shimin paused slightly while speaking.


    "What else is there?" Seeing the eunuch stammering, Li Shimin demanded sternly.


    rmed by Li Shimin''s displeasure, the eunuch quickly kowtowed and said, "Also, the Tathagata himself dered that Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang may meet again if fate allows."


    "...", Li Shimin''s expression shifted, understanding the implication of those words.


    Gaoyang being personally saved by the Tathagata was certainly a joyful event, and though he was reluctant to let her go, Li Shimin felt happy that she could practice cultivation with Guanyin.


    But the Tathagata saying Master Xuanzang might meet Gaoyang again in the future suggested that he was destined to go to Western Spirit Mountain!


    It would have been one thing for an ordinary person to say this, buting from the Tathagata himself, these words carried much more weight.


    Moreover, Master Xuanzang was the first monk to receive twelve incense scars in all ages.


    "Summon the Imperial Brother to the pce, confer upon him the titles of Holy Monk of Great Tang and State Preceptor, and make known to all under heaven!" Li Shimin spoke after a moment of silence.


    The title of Holy Monk was highly revered. The title of Saint Monk Longhai, spontaneously called out by the people of the Great Tang, was more than deserved by him as the head of the Great Buddha Temple and the foremost monk of the Great Tang.


    However, no matter how deserved, this title had not been formally bestowed by Li Shimin, the Emperor of Tang, and hence did not hold an official status.


    But today, Li Shimin decided to formalize his recognition by conferring upon Jiang Liu, on top of admitting him as the Imperial Brother, the titles of Holy Monk of Great Tang and the position of State Preceptor, the significance of which was self-evident.


    "As youmand! However, Your Majesty, after the Holy Monk sought the Buddha''s help to save the Princess, he fell into an exhausted sleep, and it is unknown how long he will sleep," said Li Shimin, stirring concern. Yet, the eunuch showed no objection and promptly nodded, then reminded him.


    "Then you should go and notify the Great Buddha Temple to let the Holy Monke to the Imperial Pce to receive his title as soon as he awakens," Li Shimin said after a moment''s thought.


    "Understood," said the young eunuch, unable to conceal his astonishment.


    This was indeed a great honor. It was the first time His Majesty had decided to award someone and was personally waiting for the individual to wake up before proceeding.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Great Buddha Temple, Jiang Liu, who had slept for a day and a night, finally woke up fully refreshed and with a clear goal concerning his journey to the West.


    The required experience points to level up were increasing, and which among the immortals and buddhas had not cultivated for thousands, if not tens of thousands of years? How could he hope to match them within about twenty years?


    Even with the aid of a game system, it was as difficult as reaching the heavens.


    However, no matter how challenging, he must strive in his cultivation for self-preservation and not cken in the slightest.


    Having made up his mind, Jiang Liu opened the storage space before him and began putting on his equipment one piece at a time.


    Vidyaraja Crown, Golden Cicada Buddha Robe, Sandalwood Buddha Beads...


    Indeed, the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe was equipment that could only be worn at level 15. Having secluded himself with Princess Gaoyang in a small mountain vige for about two months and asionally cultivating with the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique, Jiang Liu had long advanced to level 15.


    "The journey to the West has not officially begun, and while there''s still a bit of time, I should go to the Demon-Suppressing Hall to significantly enhance my strength!" he mused.


    With an unprecedented intense desire to improve his strength, Jiang Liu, now fully equipped, prepared to leave for the Demon-Suppressing Hall to level up throughbat.


    However, just as he had pushed open the door of the Zen Room, there were already disciples of the Great Buddha Temple waiting outside.


    "Master Xuanzang, the Emperor of Tang has decreed that once you wake up, you are toe to the Imperial Pce to ept the appointment as State Preceptor, an honor of the Holy Monk," said the monk with an adoring gaze as he spoke to Jiang Liu.


    Hearing this, Jiang Liu pondered for a moment. Although he was indifferent to the so-called position of State Preceptor and the honor of the Holy Monk, adding maybe not even 100 experience points to his significance, he still felt obliged to honor Emperor Li Shimin''s dignity.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Thinking it over, Jiang Liu nodded and headed out of the Great Buddha Temple.


    "Master Xuanzang, wait! The Abbot Longhai has ordered that if you are going out, you should use his Buddhist Pnquin¡­" the monk called out, seeing Jiang Liu walking away.


    "No need, I will be quick," Jiang Liu answered without looking back.


    Indeed, from now on, every minute and second of his time was precious. How could he afford to waste it with formalities?


    Dressed in the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe and wearing the Vidyaraja Crown, because the twelve Scar of Precepts obscured his head, he walked swiftly without attracting much attention as he quickly made his way toward the Imperial Pce.


    Yet, as he was halfway there, Jiang Liu suddenly paused in his steps.


    Inside Chang''an City, not far away, there was a fortune-telling stall, where an old Taoist sat quietly. His appearance slightly resembled Yuan Tiangang.


    "Could it be? Is he..." Jiang Liu thought, seeing the Taoist''s appearance.


    Just then, the previously clear sky darkened as if it was about to rain at any moment.


    Soon after, a man in his forties, with a remarkable presence, walked directly into the fortune-telling stall.

 Chapter 77 Journey to the West to Start Earlier?

    Inside Chang''an City, there were a few fortune-telling stalls, which normally were not something worth noting. However, the owner of this stall bore a striking resemnce to Yuan Tiangang¡ªseven or eight points simr¡ªand that made all the difference.


    Another sight was an extraordinary middle-aged man making his way inside, and with his arrival in Chang''an City, there were omens of wind and thunder merging, which led Jiang Liu''s heart to sh with the saying, "Dragon Following Cloud, Tiger Following Wind."


    "Could it be? Really Yuan Shoucheng and the Dragon King of Jing River?", Jiang Liu mused with a slight stirring in his heart, also feeling a bit of surprise and urgency.


    Based on the original text of Journey to the West, the start of the journey was actually marked by a bet between the Dragon King of Jing River and Yuan Shoucheng.


    If that was really the case, could it be that the Journey to the West was going to start much earlier than expected?


    Though he hade to understand through his understanding with Tathagata that the westward journey was inevitable, he was after all only fifteen years old now, wasn''t he?


    Although he did not remember exactly how old Tang Monk was when he set out in the original text, he was at least supposed to be in his twenties before starting, plus the journey westward on the road would take about ten years, so Jiang Liu had always thought that he only had around twenty years at most.


    He needed to grow strong enough within those twenty years to wrestle with Tathagata.


    But if it were to start now, wouldn''t he be robbed of a significant portion of that time!?


    Thinking of such consequences, Jiang Liu''s heart tightened, and after a moment of hesitation, he too stepped inside.


    Within the stall, the dialogue between the two men could be heard.


    "Three chi, three cun and forty-eight points? Hahaha, very well. As you have said, I shall see if it will rain tomorrow and if the rainfall will match your prediction. If it''s not urate, don''t me me for flipping your stall over to teach you not to deceive the people," said the middle-aged man in amanding tone, speaking with a confidentughter.


    The old man sitting in front of the stall remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about the prospect of his stall being flipped.


    However, as Jiang Liu set foot inside, he turned his head and took a nce at him.


    "Has Master Xuanzange here also looking to resolve his doubts?", Yuan Shoucheng greeted Jiang Liu upon his entrance.


    After making the bet, the Dragon King of Jing River had originally nned to leave, but upon hearing the name of Master Xuanzang, he halted his steps and looked at Jiang Liu curiously.


    Certainly, Master Xuanzang''s reputation was now quite distinguished, and since Jing River was not too far from Chang''an, he obviously knew of Xuanzang''s name.


    "You are kind, sir. What should I call you?", With palms pressed together and disying humble courtesy, Jiang Liu naturally pretended not to recognize Yuan Shoucheng.


    The grand situation of Journey to the West had not formally begun yet; showing any advance knowledge of it could have unthinkable consequences.


    "Master Xuanzang can call me Yuan Shoucheng," Yuan Shoucheng nodded slightly and performed a salute in return.


    "Yuan? I once had the fortune of meeting Taoist Yuan Tiangang. Sharing the same surname and bearing a resemnce to him, could it be...?", spected Jiang Liu with an air of curiosity.


    "Indeed, I am the uncle of Yuan Tiangang," Yuan Shoucheng replied directly, without intent to hide the fact.


    "I see. Taoist Yuan Tiangang has served His Majesty closely and possesses great divine skills. I have heard that his divination is particrly sublime. As his uncle, I imagine your mastery of divination is profound. There is a matter I wish to inquire about, and I hope you can dispel my doubts," Jiang Liu expressed politely but without mincing words.


    Even though he had only met Yuan Tiangang once, Jiang Liu publicly heaped praise on him.


    These words were not merely ttery for the listener. In fact, they were meant for the Dragon King of Jing River, who was within earshot¡ªan implicit message to him.


    Yuan Tiangang was an immensely famous Taoist in the whole of Great Tang. For instance, Li Shimin had requested him to perform severalputations for the locust disaster. Since Yuan Shoucheng was his uncle, this was an indication for the Dragon King of Jing River not to take their betting lightly.


    "Master Xuanzang, the Holy Monk of Great Tang, with twelve incense scars, has deep Buddha affinity. If you wish to know your future, it''s clear at a nce, so why bother asking further?" Although Jiang Liu''s words were ttering, Yuan Tiangang did not intend to divine for him.


    "No, what I want to inquire about is not my own future," Jiang Liu shook his head and replied.


    "Oh? If that''s the case, please speak clearly, Mage," hearing that Jiang Liu''s query was not for himself, Yuan Shoucheng nodded slightly.


    "I have heard that those with Divine Skills can foresee fate, avoid disasters, and seek fortune, but when a great catastrophe approaches, they be blinded and their hearts bewildered. As a Taoist well-versed in divination, may I ask if this is true?"


    Jiang Liu joined his palms together, adopting a very humble stance, sincerely seeking enlightenment.


    ...


    The Dragon King of Jing River, who already knew that Yuan Shoucheng''s divination skills were extremely exquisite, otherwise he wouldn''t have been able to guide the fishermen to return with a full catch each time they fished in the Jing River, didn''t have much thought on Jiang Liu''s implication that Yuan Shoucheng''s divinatory skills were profound; he remained fully confident in his own wager.


    However, the question that Jiang Liu posed afterward caused a tightness in the Dragon King''s heart, as if a cup of cold water had suddenly been poured over his fiery spirit.


    Indeed, across the ages, those with Divine Skills were mostly capable of predicting the heavens'' will, avoiding misfortune, and attracting fortune, but why then did so many with Divine Skills, including the Immortals and Bodhisattvas in heaven, fell?


    It was because when a great catastrophe descended, it clouded the wise vision, making things indistinct, and in their bewilderment amidst the disaster, they perished.


    Facing Jiang Liu''s question, Yuan Shoucheng was speechless for a moment, unable to answer, whether he couldn''t respond or didn''t know how to reply was uncertain.


    As for Yuan Shoucheng''s answer, Jiang Liu did not care much, but his eyes nced imperceptibly at the Dragon King of Jing River beside him.


    Seeing a touch of contemtion in his eyes, Jiang Liu knew that he had achieved his goal.


    After bowing with palms together, Jiang Liu turned around and strode out of the stall, heading for the Imperial Pce.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In the grand scheme of Journey to the West, although he was a very important chess piece, even the Tathagata had agreed to allow him to rescue Gaoyang, his agitation did not impede the overall n, which is why the Tathagata could tolerate his disturbances.


    But if he deliberately stepped out and obstructed the crucial undertaking of Journey to the West, perhaps the Buddha would have to eliminate him, send someone else, or allow Master Golden Cicada to be reborn again...


    So, although Jiang Liu very much wanted to obstruct, he could not openly step out. Having hinted to the Dragon King of Jing River to this extent, he considered that he had done his best, hoping that the Dragon King would be wise enough to buy him some more time.


    In the grand scheme of Journey to the West, as a chess piece wanting to contend with the chess yer, every move he made was like treading on thin ice.


    After Jiang Liu left, the Dragon King of Jing River also departed from Chang''an City with a contemtive look. With his departure, the tumultuous anomalies in Chang''an City naturally dissipated.


    However, Yuan Shoucheng frowned slightly as he watched Jiang Liu''s retreating figure.


    Were Master Xuanzang''s words in front of the Dragon King of Jing River intentional or just a coincidence?


    Not long after, Jiang Liu arrived at the Imperial Pce, where no one stopped him, and some guards even ran in to announce his arrival. Explore more at empire


    Upon learning that Master Xuanzang hade, Li Shimin personally came out to wee him.


    Following close behind him was Yuan Tiangang.


    After the greetings, Jiang Liu''s gaze fell on Yuan Tiangang, and after pondering for a moment, he asked, "Taoist Yuan, do you happen to have an uncle named Yuan Shoucheng?"

 Chapter 78 Yuan Shoucheng is not Yuan Shoucheng

    "My uncle?" Yuan Tiangang looked at Jiang Liu in surprise, obviously not expecting that Jiang Liu would suddenly bring up his own uncle.


    However, he nodded, "Indeed, I do have an uncle named Yuan Shoucheng. How does Master Xuanzang know of him?"


    "Just now, as the poor monk was walking through Chang''an City, I saw a fortune-telling stall. Noticing the owner bore a striking resemnce to you, I had a brief conversation with him," Jiang Liu responded with a slight nod.


    "My uncle, when he has nothing better to do, likes to use my name to tell fortunes and earn some silver coins. It''s just that his divination skills are not proficient. I fear Master Xuanzang might find it amusing," Yuan Tiangang said with an embarrassed expression upon hearing Jiang Liu''s words.


    "Is that so?" Jiang Liu tensed up when he heard Yuan Tiangang''s reply.


    Looking at the original story, it is indeed within the Dragon King''s duties tomand the rains, but to be executed just for slightly missing the timing and withholding a few points of rain?


    This doesn''t make any sense at all.


    Logically speaking, in such a case, at most the Jade Emperor would be informed, and the Dragon King would be assigned a penalty for dereliction of duty, perhaps a mild punishment?


    Otherwise, if the heavenly rules were really that strict, even with several more doses of courage, the Dragon King of Jing River wouldn''t dare to fudge the figures, right?


    Besides, in the original story, weren''t there several instances of tampering with the weather? During the battle in Chechi Kingdom, the Five-Thunder Technique was used to summon the wind and rain divinities to prepare for rain, but Sun Wukong jumped up to stop it, wasn''t that also a dy?


    When fighting Red Boy, Sun Wukong also asked the Dragon King for rain; and for preparing a medicine for the King of Zhuzi Country with rootless water, Rain was summoned, wasn''t that private rainmaking?


    If the matter of rainfall was really so strict, all these individuals would have been executed.


    Therefore, the execution of the Dragon King of Jing River can be regarded as him being used as a pawn and sacrificed by others.


    Yuan Shoucheng is even more mysterious. The decree of the Jade Emperor should have been passed down from top to bottom to the Dragon King of Jing River, as internalmunications within the system are supposed to be the fastest, right? Yet, strangely, he knew about it even earlier than the Dragon King of Jing River, which ispletely illogical.


    Besides, when the Dragon King of Jing River went to smash his stall, Yuan Shoucheng immediately predicted that the Dragon King would suffer a strike. The Jade Emperor''s decree hadn''t even been issued yet, how did he know in advance? And even who would carry out the execution, Wei Zheng?


    In the world of Journey to the West, it''s not surprising for someone in the world to possess great supernatural powers, but divination so potent that it could forecast the affairs of the Jade Emperor beforehand? Jiang Liu absolutely did not believe this.


    Therefore, upon meeting Yuan Tiangang, he had casually asked, and Yuan Tiangang''s answer had also left Jiang Liu feeling a sense of dread.


    It seems that the real Yuan Shoucheng may no longer exist, and fortunately at that time, although I intended to save the Dragon King of Jing River as much as possible, I did not exhibit anything unreasonable.


    Jiang Liu asked casually, and Yuan Tiangang thought nothing more of it. Subsequently, the Emperor of Tang personally conferred the title of Holy Monk of Great Tang upon Jiang Liu.


    The ceremony was already well-prepared, so naturally, it was a lively affair.


    However, Jiang Liu''s mind was preupied with the matters of his Journey to the West, somewhat absent-minded.


    In Jiang Liu''s view, after the time-consuming fuss of the ceremony was finally over, he returned to the Great Buddha Temple.


    Without the urgency to head to the Demon-Suppressing Hall for leveling up throughbat, he sat cross-legged and continued to cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound technique, to enhance his Experience Points, also properly waiting for the conclusion of the Dragon King of Jing River''s fate tomorrow.


    Although the entirety of the Dragon King of Jing River''s situation was also a trap, I had warned him, but could he truly alter his destiny?


    The next day, several disciples from the Great Buddha Temple packed their bags, preparing to leave the temple to perform religious services. From a distance, they saw Jiang Liu''s Zen Room and could see him sitting by the window, gazing up at the sky.


    "Hey, brother, the Holy Monk seems to have been staring out the window lost in thought since early this morning, what do you think he''s pondering? Could it possibly be he''s thinking about Princess Gaoyang?" A young monk whispered.


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    "Silence!" A slightly older monk beside him said sharply, his face darkening as he spoke in a low voice.


    As they spoke, they also looked towards Jiang Liu, sitting by the window. After a brief silence, he said, "Although the Holy Monk is young, his ''Formless Gatha'' is recited throughout the world. His understanding of the Buddhist Law is profound, far beyond what we can imagine. Perhaps he spent the entire day contemting Buddhist teachings?"


    Jiang Liu sat quietly by the window, watching the sky. He had risen early that day. Although he hadn''t heard the entire bet between the Dragon King and Yuan Shoucheng the day before, he still remembered the number of raindrops.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Thus, today Jiang Liu waited patiently, waiting for the rain, thinking that if the Dragon King lost the bet, there might still be a slim chance of survival. Otherwise, the situation would be far more terrifying than he had imagined...


    "Greetings to the Holy Monk!" Several disciples from the Great Buddha Temple passed by and bowed respectfully to Jiang Liu.


    "Hmm, greetings to you as well. Where are you headed?" Jiang Liu returned the gesture, his demeanor approachable.


    "Esquire Li, who lives fifty miles away, has invited us to perform a rite, to help lost souls transcend," the oldest monk replied upon hearing Jiang Liu''s question.


    "Fifty miles, huh? You should take umbres with you. If I am not mistaken, it''s going to rain today," Jiang Liu said, offering a reminder.


    "Rain... rain...?" The monks were momentarily stunned and then looked up at the clear blue sky, which didn''t look like it was about to rain at all.


    However, since the Holy Monk had spoken, the elder monk thought for a moment and then turned around, instructing everyone to bring an umbre.


    Boom¡­ Boom¡­


    Thunder rumbled as clouds surged in.


    Just as they had picked up umbres and were about to leave the Great Buddha Temple, the sky suddenly roared with thunder, and dense clouds appeared from nowhere.


    Before long, a torrential downpour followed.


    "This... the Holy Monk really is prescient..." The disciples, who had not yet left the temple, looked at each other with faces filled with amazement.


    Jiang Liu was not surprised by the rain; he just waited quietly.


    After about two to three hours, when the clouds and rain began to clear, Jiang Liu stepped outside and asked the monks in the temple about today''s rainfall amount.


    Upon hearing Jiang Liu''s inquiry, the disciple, although also finding it strange, still ran to make a careful measurement, and then answered respectfully, "Reporting to the Holy Monk, today''s rainfall was three feet and forty points."


    "It''s over..." Hearing this number, Jiang Liu felt a heaviness in his heart.


    Although he could not recall the exact time, Jiang Liu remembered the rainfall amount clearly. Yuan Shoucheng had said it would be three feet, three inches, and forty-eight points.


    At this moment, with the numbers not matching, it was clear that, just like in the original story, the Dragon King of Jing River had withheld some of the rain, dying the appointed time for the rainfall.


    With the amount of rainfall incorrect, there was nothing worth watching regarding the Dragon King of Jing River causing a ruckus in front of the awning.


    Jiang Liu sighed and returned to his Zen Room, sitting down to cultivate.


    His time was running out.


    Indeed, within a couple of days, a major event that shook Chang''an City urred.


    A dragon''s head fell from the clouds, drawing crowds of onlookers. Qin Shubao happened to be passing by, picked up the dragon''s head, and went to report to the pce...

 Chapter 79 Guanyin Bestows Treasures

    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    Tip: Level up by 1, current level 16.


    ...


    Sitting cross-legged, silently utilizing the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound divine skill, experience points grew bit by bit, like umting sand into a pagoda.


    The matter of the Journey to the West was imminent, and the urgency in his heart prevented Jiang Liu from wasting even a moment. In recent days, despite the liveliness of Chang''an City, he paid no mind and continued his cultivation until, atst, he had raised his level to 16.


    As his level reached 16, naturally, he gained an additional skill point. After briefly considering where to allocate this extra skill point between the Demon-Subduing Mantra and the Guanyin Mantra, Jiang Liu decided not to rush and use it immediately but rather to wait until he was fighting monsters before deciding.


    After all, as long as the skill points were in hand, he could use them at any time.


    The Demon-Subduing Mantra was a skill book that had dropped from a Demon Marshal Level Electric Light Leopard in the Demon-Suppressing Hall. It was a monk upation skill book for level 15 that genuinely increased attack power with a BUFF effect.


    Although it was only of Primary Level, it could add an impressive 100 points of attack power to allies, which demonstrated this skill alone could offer a higher boost than the attack power provided by the Demon Subduing Staff of Perfect Quality. This illustrated the extraordinary support abilities of the monk profession.


    In recent days, Chang''an City had been abuzz with excitement. A few days ago, a dragon''s head fell from the sky, shocking the people of the city. Then, the Emperor of Tang couldn''t sleep at night and had to have Yuchi Gong and Qin Shubao guard at night for peace.


    However, it wasn''t possible for these two generals to stand guard at the door every night. Therefore, the Emperor of Tang had a paint artist sketch their likenesses and affix them to the door.


    It wasn''t long before news of the Emperor''s demise spread, sending shockwaves throughout thend...


    Although Jiang Liu had been focused on cultivation these days, striving to enhance his strength to face the great ordeal of the Journey to the West, he was nevertheless aware of the Emperor''s passing.


    However, as someone familiar with the original story, Jiang Liu knew that it wouldn''t be long before the Emperor''s true spirit wandered in the Underworld, met his father and brothers, saw countless lost souls in Hell, and then would be revived.


    Indeed, Jiang Liu had just finished his meditation and grooming when he stepped out of the Zen Room for breakfast. Along the way, disciples of the Great Buddha Temple gave him respectful salutations, and from their conversations, Jiang Liu heard the news of the Emperor''s sudden revival the night before.


    As the Emperor of Great Tang, whether it was his passing or his revival, it naturally became the topic of interest for everyone.


    Having just finished breakfast, Jiang Liu was about to return to the Zen Room to rest, when suddenly, an eunuch from the pce arrived with an Imperial Decree. It stated that the Emperor wished to gather one thousand two hundred monks to hold a grand water andnd ceremony to pray for the liberation of lost souls from the Underworld.


    The task of gathering monks from all over was naturally entrusted to the Great Buddha Temple.


    And the one to preside over this ceremony was assigned to be the Holy Monk Xuanzang.


    After all, he was officially recognized as a Holy Monk, an Imperial Brother, and a monk with the deepest Buddhist connections in history.


    The Saint Monk Longhai showed no displeasure about Jiang Liu presiding over the ceremony. After the incident with the Dragon Subduing Arhat, Jiang Liu could even invite the Tathagata to show his divine presence. Longhai had no reason to feel jealousy or discontent towards his affairs.


    On the contrary, Saint Monk Longhai felt great joy about the uing water andnd ceremony.


    A gathering of one thousand two hundred monks for an unprecedented grand ceremony? Wouldn''t this be the most magnificent event ever held within the borders of the Great Tang?


    This event was naturally a significant boon to the reputation of the Buddhist Sect.


    Jiang Liu, of course, could not refuse such a task. He silently prepared, selecting two Buddhist scriptures to read aloud during the ceremony.


    All these were mere formalities, not worth his time to memorize the scriptures.


    One thousand two hundred monks couldn''t be gathered in a moment or two. The Imperial Decree was issued, and with the Great Buddha Temple taking charge, it took a full five days to gather the entire number of one thousand two hundred monks.


    During these five days, the venue for the Water and Land Dharma Assembly was also hurriedly prepared.


    Aside from the necessary time for daily life, Jiang Liu spent all his time meditating and cultivating, earning over ten thousand Experience Points each day through cultivation.


    However, the amount of Experience Points required to level up was increasing, and he didn''t know how long it would take to reach level 17.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Today, with only one day left before the official holding of the Dharma assembly, suddenly, a bald, barefoot monk in tattered clothes appeared in Chang''an City, selling kasayas and monk''s staffs on the streets.


    Despite the scabrous monk''s unremarkable appearance, the kasaya and staff he held seemed to be treasures. Naturally, people approached him to inquire.


    "The kasaya is priced at five thousand taels, and the staff at two thousand taels," the price the scabrous monk quoted made countless people shake their heads, thinking the monk had gone mad.


    Just then, Prime Minister Xiao Yu''s carriage arrived, and the guard troop cleared the streets.


    But the scabrous monk neither dodged nor avoided, instead heading straight towards the Prime Minister''s carriage.


    ...


    But within the Great Buddha Temple, it was distinctly felt that the Journey to the West was drawing near. Jiang Liu spent his days hidden in the Zen Room, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, and the other monks, thinking he was preparing the essential scriptures for the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, did not dare to disturb him.


    However, this day, a eunuch from the pce arrived at the temple, stating that the Emperor of Tang had invited Holy Monk Xuanzang to the pce for a chat.


    Hearing that the Emperor of Tang summoned him, Jiang Liu did not hesitate, quickly made some preparations, and then set out for the pce.


    Perhaps, with the day of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly approaching, the Emperor of Tang had some matters to exin to him?


    "Come, bring the items out..." Following Jiang Liu''s entrance to the pce, after exchanging greetings, Li Shimin wasted no time and spoke to the eunuch by his side.


    "Eh? Are you giving me something?" Jiang Liu thought to himself with surprise, having assumed that Li Shimin sought him out to discuss the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.


    Following Li Shimin''s order, two eunuchs came forward, each holding a tray; one tray bore an exquisite kasaya, and the other a horizontal monk''s staff.


    "This is..." Seeing these two items, Jiang Liu''s heart tensed.


    "Imperial Brother, isn''t this fate? Prime Minister Xiao Yu encountered a scabrous monk in the streets of Chang''an selling a kasaya, asking for a total of seven thousand taels. He said wearing this kasaya, one can avoid reincarnation, and wielding this staff can prevent poisoning.


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    Since you are the Holy Monk of Great Tang and cannot avoid theborious task of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, I wished to purchase these and gift them to you."


    "But who knew, once the scabrous monk learned they were to be gifted to you, he refused to take a single coin."


    "Indeed, it seems like Bodhisattva Guanyin has sent the Brocade Kasaya and Nine-Ring Staff," hearing Li Shimin''s words, how could Jiang Liu not understand the situation?


    He sighed inwardly but also felt some joy. The Tathagata had said Princess Gaoyang was revived and cultivating under Bodhisattva Guanyin; he wondered if she hade with Gaoyang this time?


    Logically, before setting off to the west, letting himself and Gaoyang meet would be permissible; wouldn''t this strengthen his resolve for the Journey to the West?


    Moreover, logically, allowing Princess Gaoyang to meet the Emperor of Tang could also improve the Buddhist Sect''s image in the Emperor''s eyes, right?


    With a mind full of thoughts, Jiang Liu maintained aposed demeanor, reached out to ept the two treasures, bowed his head and lowered his gaze, focusing on the items in front of him.


    These two treasures should be of higher quality than the Vidyaraja Crown given to him by Saint Monk Longhai, right?


    As Jiang Liu''s gaze rested on them, the details and attributes of the two treasures were revealed before his eyes.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 80 Bodhi Verse

    Brocade Kasaya (Epic Level) (Sealed): No level requirement, Defense+??? Special Effect: When the user dies without the soul perishing, they can resurrect within a certain period. Note: After equipping, the item will be soul-bound. Note: This equipment is under a seal, retaining only its special effect.


    Nine-Ring Staff (Epic Level) (Sealed): No level requirement, Attack+???, Special Effect: Can activate an active effect, granting immunity to attacks from targets below level 90 for 300 seconds. Note: After equipping, the item will be soul-bound. Also, this equipment is under a seal, retaining only its special effect.


    Jiang Liu: "...".


    Looking at the attributes of these two pieces of equipment, Jiang Liu''s face darkened. These two pieces of equipment were like the Vidyaraja Crown, having no level requirement for use, meaning that people of any level could use them.


    It''s just that, the Buddhist Sect had sent treasures but also sealed them? What kind of situation was this?


    Equipment of epic quality was a notch higher than that of legendary level. If these two pieces of equipment weren''t sealed, Jiang Liu believed that his leveling up would have been much easier.


    However, although heined inwardly, even without the added abilities of attack and defense, fortunately, the seal wasn''tplete. The special effects of the two pieces of equipment were at least preserved.


    d in the Brocade Kasaya, not falling into reincarnation; wielding the Nine-Ring Staff, untouched by poison.


    In terms of the special effects of these two pieces of equipment, it wasn''t an exaggeration.


    With the special effects of these two pieces of equipment preserved, at least before reaching Western Heaven, his own safety during battles and leveling up was somewhat guaranteed.


    After putting on these two pieces of equipment, Jiang Liu''s whole presence seemed to change.


    Crowned with the Vidyaraja, holding the Nine-Ring Staff, wearing the Brocade Kasaya, he looked handsome and youthful, with red lips and white teeth, appearing dignified and noble, yet handsome and dashing¡ªa stunning young monk.


    "Hmm, not bad, very good...", Li Shimin nodded slightly in satisfaction while looking at Jiang Liu''s appearance.


    Although these two pieces of equipment were sent to him on the pretext by Bodhisattva Guanyin, Li Shimin''s genuine intention to purchase these treasures for him was indeed heartfelt.


    Therefore, after donning the kasaya, Jiang Liu earnestly bowed to Li Shimin: "Jiang Liu, thanks Your Majesty!"


    Referring to himself by his own name and not as "this humble monk," his words obviously came from the heart rather than mere superficial courtesy.


    "You don''t need to thank me, these two treasures... can''t really be considered gifts from me..." Li Shimin said, shaking his head slightly after hearing Jiang Liu''s thanks.


    "Although I don''t know exactly what ns the Buddhist Sect has, I do know that you y a very important part in it. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have such Buddhist fate, even being able to have the Tathagata himself manifest."


    "Originally, hearing that these treasures could prevent falling into reincarnation and ward off poison, I wanted to buy them for you. In this way, these two treasures would be my gifts to you, and that''s all I could help with," he said.


    "Unfortunately, the person selling the kasaya and staff refused to take money. Even so, these two treasures are considered gifts from the Buddhist Sect to you. It seems everything was arranged by the Buddhist Sect in the background. Who in the mortal world could have such treasures, and furthermore, be willing to give them away?"


    Li Shimin''s words startled Jiang Liu, who did not expect that, based on recent events, the Emperor could roughly deduce the truth behind the Journey to the West.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Really? To be the Emperor of Great Tang, Li Shimin might not be extraordinarily intelligent, but he certainly had a perspective beyond that of ordinary people.


    Indeed, the Brocade Kasaya and the Nine-Ring Staff didn''t seem like treasures from the mortal world. A scabrous monk selling them in the street didn''t make sense; such treasures, supposedly for him, weren''t sold for a penny. Anyone with sense would realize there were hidden machinations.


    "Regardless, I must still thank Your Majesty for your favor!" Jiang Liu said sincerely with palms together and a bow.


    "Alright, you should go. As the Human Emperor, I have a duty to all the people and can help you only so much. Caught up in the grand scheme, you''ll have to rely on yourself from now on," Li Shimin said, waving his hand and speaking with a hint of helplessness.


    Help? Li Shimin had tried to help, even stepping in to block the Dragon Subduing Arhat, but what was the oue? Great Tang suffered a locust gue, countless citizens were afflicted, and he had no choice but to bow his head, to swallow locusts alive, turning from a distant rtion into sworn brothers with Jiang Liu to break the stalemate.


    He was well aware that within this grand scheme, even if he wanted to help, he was powerless to do so.


    Jiang Liu turned and left the Imperial Pce, but he looked back onest time, silently sighing in his heart, feeling clearly the Emperor''s intent. He was unable to help, and there was nothing he could do about it.


    Even if he was just a mortal, even the mighty Dragon King couldn''t save himself in this game; death came swiftly, with no chance for defense.


    The next day, the entirety of Chang''an City was exceptionally bustling, countless citizens, not just from within Chang''an but also many who had traveled from afar, came to witness the grand spectacle of the Water Land Dharma Assembly.


    In recent days, Chang''an had been incredibly lively. In just a few short months, one after another, earth-shattering pieces of news had been continuously emerging.


    During the Incense Offering Ceremony, Master Xuanzang lit twelve incense scars, a story that spread throughout thend.


    Two Great Demons shed against each other.


    Following that, Master Xuanzang and Li Chunfeng engaged in philosophical discourse, with the Formless Gatha hailed as a precious poem of the Buddhist Sect.


    Master Xuanzang then swore an oath to heaven, agreeing to marry Princess Gaoyang.


    Emperor of Tang organized a ceremony to pray for the heavens, swallowing locusts alive to end the locust gue.


    Next came the manifestation of the Tathagata.


    A dragon''s head fell from the sky.


    Emperor Li Shimin of Tang was resurrected from the dead.


    And finally, today''s Water Land Dharma Assembly.


    ...


    Scenes thatmoners might not witness once in decades, Chang''an had seen them conglomerate in just a few months, and most of these events were connected to Master Xuanzang.


    The magnificence of the scene, with precisely twelve hundred monks convening for the Water Land Dharma Assembly, exceeded the ceremony where Li Shimin had prayed to the heavens, attracting far more enthusiasm.


    Jiang Liu, holding a Nine-Ring Staff and d in a Brocade Kasaya, with a dignified and glorious appearance, step by step, made his way to the dais of the Water Land Assembly, and then produced a copy of the Heart Sutra from his bosom.


    Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, when practicing the profound Praj?¨¡p¨¡ramit¨¡, illuminated the five aggregates and saw that they are all empty, and thus relieved all suffering¡­


    The Water Land Assembly was merely a formality. Jiang Liu wasn''t interested in wasting time reciting scriptures; he could spend that time better by meditating, so he just held the scripture and read it out loud.


    Upon hearing Jiang Liu doing nothing but reading the "Heart Sutra" on the stage, without offering any personal insights into Buddhist Law, not only did the twelve hundred monks exchange looks of bewilderment, but even the surrounding popce began to murmur among themselves.


    Today''s Water Land Assembly was meant to hear the Holy Monk Xuanzang''s enlightenment on Buddhist Law, but instead, he simply read out from the "Heart Sutra"?


    What was the meaning of this?


    "Hahaha, so this is the Holy Monk of Great Tang? At such an assembly, is he only reading out Buddhist Scriptures without a single personal insight?" Just then, a sudden loudughter erupted, and the Scabrous Monk burst intoughter, jumping out and pointing at Jiang Liu on the stage as he shouted.


    "Who is this person? How dare he cause trouble?" The guards nearby were shocked to see the Scabrous Monk jump out and shouted in a low voice as they moved forward to apprehend him.


    "Then, in your opinion, what constitutes personal insight?" Seeing the monk that had jumped out, Jiang Liu also knew his identity and stood up to ask.


    "I have once heard your Formless Gatha, ''The body is the Bodhi Tree, and the mind is like the Mingjing tform, always strive to wipe it clean, and let no dust alight.'' That poem captured the essence of my Buddhist meditation deeply.


    Today, I came to listen to you preach and discuss Buddhist Law, hoping for even more exquisite Chan words and marvels, but to my disappointment, none were forting," The Scabrous Monk shook his head in a disappointed manner as he asked.


    "Do you wish to test my current attitude toward Buddhism before I go on my Journey to the West to seek scriptures?", Jiang Liu interpreted the Scabrous Monk''s words with vignce,rgely understanding his intent.


    "Amitabha. When Iposed the ''Formless Gatha'' that day, let me today write another Buddhist poem. I shall call it the ''Bodhi Verse'', to offer to all people for appreciation."


    Bodhi originally has no tree, and the mirror also is not a stand...


    (PS: Some people have asked about my update schedule. I post two chapters daily. Updates are scheduled for 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM.)

 Chapter 81 A Meals Promise

    Bodhi originally has no tree, the bright mirror also not a stand.


    There was not a single thing to begin with, where could the dust alight?


    This verse on Bodhi, to a certain extent, greatly resembles the previously mentioned Formless Gatha. Yet, its implied meaning is entirely different.


    If it is said that the Formless Gatha delves deeply into the essence of a monk''s cultivation of Buddhism, then this Bodhi Verse has alreadypleted its transformation and sublimation at that level.


    As soon as the Bodhi Verse was recited, the Dharma assembly by the water andnd fell into silence. Those mere twenty words immersed countless monks.


    In a faint sense, as if they grasped something; but upon closer examination, they couldn''t discern what it was they realized. This feeling was profound and yet more profound.


    "There was not a single thing to begin with? Where could the dust alight? Has the Holy Monk Xuanzang already reached such a detached state of mind? Despite his youth, he possesses such a realm already.


    Is he truly a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva?", within the twelve hundred monks, an elder monk d in a kasaya, his beard already white, looked at the young monk on the tform with both admiration and respect, sincerely impressed.


    "Amitabha, the Formless Gatha alone was already a treasured poem of the Buddhist sect. But today, this Bodhi Verse outshines it, making it seemckluster. This is indeed an unparalleled echo of the Buddhist sect for all eternity," from below the tform, Saint Monk Longhai, upon hearing the Bodhi Verse, felt joyful and full of admiration.


    Even as one called a Holy Monk, I could not achieve this. I am inferior to him.


    "A true gain, this is indeed a great gain...", among the numerousmoners in attendance, an older man also showed a face full of joy.


    I traveled a great distance to attend this water andnd Dharma assembly, all to hear Master Xuanzang''s explication of the Buddhist Law and to see the perspective of the Holy Monk. Yet I never expected him to merely chant scriptures without presenting any personal insights or thoughts from the tform.


    I was extremely disappointed at first, but now, after hearing this Bodhi Verse, I feel that my trip has not been in vain.


    Even more, the old man thought that the previous simple recitation of scriptures by the Holy Monk Xuanzang was very profound.


    Could it be that everyone has a different understanding of the scriptures, and thus, the Holy Monk, in this manner, is reminding all beings that they need to contemte for themselves? Otherwise, with the Holy Monk''s Buddha nature, why wouldn''t he express his own insight and enlightenment?


    Thinking this way, the Holy Monk''s efforts are truly painstaking.


    ¡­


    The Scabrous Monk, transformed by Guanyin, also watched Jiang Liu in amazement. I must admit, even having lived for thousands of years, I initially thought the Formless Gatha was merely admirable, but this Bodhi Verse is truly stunning, even to Guanyin.


    At the same time, in my heart, I couldn''t help wondering, isn''t this the incarnation of Master Golden Cicada? Even after reincarnation, without the memories of thousands of years, he still possesses such wisdom.


    Originally, Guanyin''s n was to use the Red Thread of Fate to deepen the love between Xuanzang and Gaoyang, then sacrifice her to strengthen his Zen resolve and set him on the Journey to the West. However, I did not expect that the mistake of the Dragon Subduing Arhat would make Jiang Liu potentially aware of the covert actions of the Buddhist sect.


    Therefore, Guanyin came here to test and see what his attitude towards the Buddhist sect was. Now, it seems his understanding of the Buddhist Law has be even more profound.


    Yet, even though I am amazed by this Bodhi Verse, I will not forget what my purpose is.


    Following the recitation of the Bodhi Verse, the Scabrous Monk instead burst into loudughter, "Hahaha, so this is what they call the Holy Monk of Great Tang? I see it''s nothing special after all."


    "How dare you, monk! To run wild here, mocking the Holy Monk!" After the Formless Gatha won everyone''s admiration, now hearing the Scabrous Monk utter such mockery, naturally roused a wave of excitement in the crowd.


    "Hahaha? How am I running wild? As the Holy Monk of Great Tang, although he eloquently speaks of the Buddhist Law, in the end, it is but Hinayana Buddhism. How can one be called a Holy Monk with such beliefs?" The Scabrous Monk, faced with condemnation from thousands, did not show fear, but spoke out loudly instead.


    "Then may I ask, since you insist that what Xuanzang preaches is merely Hinayana Buddhism, what then is Hinayana and what is Mahayana Buddhism?" As the words of the Scabrous Monk fell, Saint Monk Longhai stood up and asked in the assembly.


    "Cultivating oneself for personal benefit, seeing the nature of the Bright Deity, this is Hinayana Buddhism," the Scabrous Monk nced over all those present and finally rested his eyes on Jiang Liu, then he replied.


    There was a slight pause before he continued, "Salvation for the world, rescuing sentient beings from the sea of suffering, and leading them to the other shore, this is the essence of Mahayana Buddhism."


    "Holy Monk Xuanzang, the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism are stored in the Great Thunder Monastery of the Western Heaven, at the abode of our Buddha Tathagata. Are you willing to endure hardships for the sake of the people of this world, to bring back the True Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism Tripitaka?"


    "Can I say ''no''?" Upon hearing these words, Jiang Liu rolled his eyes discreetly.


    Of course, this was merely grumbled internally. The Buddhist Sect had prepared for this day for so long, made countless arrangements; they were ostensibly asking him, but in reality, was there any room for him to refuse?


    "Amitabha, this monk is willing," Jiang Liu stood up and replied, adopting a look of righteous determination. Since there was no choice, he might as well show some grandeur and passion.


    Li Shimin, who was standing by the side, did not utter a word, simply watching silently. He recognized this scabrous monk who had appeared as the one who had delivered the kasaya and the Zen staff the day before.


    Now hearing about the journey to the West, Li Shimin understood in his heart¡ªso this was the Buddhist Sect''s true intent?


    "Amitabha, Xuanzang, you are very good..." Guanyin appeared quite satisfied with Jiang Liu''s response, her form shed, then reverted to her true likeness, seated upon the Lotus tform. Her Buddhist Light was dazzling yet gentle, and she nodded at Jiang Liu with a gratified expression.


    "Bodhisattva Guanyin, Bodhisattva Guanyin has descended to earth!"


    Witnessing Guanyin reveal her true form, twelve hundred monks at the water andnd ceremony excitedly knelt down, worshipping and adoring her.


    The civilians who came to observe also prostrated themselves as if they were pounding garlic.


    "Yesterday, through the hands of the Emperor of Tang, I granted you the Brocade Kasaya and the Nine-Ring Staff. Those who don the kasaya shall not fall into the cycle of reincarnation, and those who hold the staff shall be protected from poisons.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, the journey to the Western Heaven is eighty-one thousand miles long, filled with perilous mountains and treacherous waters, brimming with wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards. To go to the Western Heaven, one must possess great wisdom, great perseverance, and a spirit of great fearlessness.


    Are you willing to go?" Seated on the Lotus tform, Guanyin''s face was full ofpassion and serenity, her chant faintly audible.


    "The disciple is willing."


    "Amitabha, very well, then. When you sessfullyplete your journey to the West, you shall certainly attain a Golden Body and true fruition."


    Things were very simple; by this point, Bodhisattva Guanyin had asked him to journey to the West for the scriptures and he had no room to refuse. Having agreed, naturally, Bodhisattva Guanyin encouraged him.


    Having fulfilled his task of guiding Xuanzang on his Journey to the West, he did not intend to stay longer. Bodhisattva Guanyin then prepared to leave.


    "Bodhisattva, wait..." Seeing Bodhisattva Guanyin turning to leave, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but call out.


    Halting in mid-air, Guanyin looked toward Jiang Liu, "Xuanzang, do you have something else to ask?"


    "I want to know, did youe here alone, Bodhisattva? Didn''t you bring anyone else with you?" Jiang Liu hesitated before asking, unable to suppress his concern for Gaoyang''s situation.


    Though he felt that for the time being, the Buddhist Sect had no reason to harm Gaoyang, he couldn''t feel at ease without seeing her for himself.


    Guanyin Bodhisattva understood the implication of Jiang Liu''s question and answered, "Amitabha, indeed, this time I came alone. However, before this visit, someone had asked me to pass a message to you. On the day you reach Spirit Mountain, there will be a meal waiting for you."


    With those words, Bodhisattva Guanyin transformed into a beam of Buddhist Light and departed into the distance.


    Jiang Liu''s face showed a soft smile in response to this answer.


    He clearly remembered how in the past, when he lived in seclusion with Gaoyang, he was the one who cooked, and she, feeling indebted, made him a promise when she was gravely poisoned and near death: if there were a next life, she wished to be the one cooking at his stove.


    (PS: And thus, the first volume of the Holy Monk of Great Tang ends, and next, the official Journey to the West begins...)

 Chapter 82 Five Elements Mountain

    "Imperial Brother, ahead lies thousands of mountains and rivers, favor not the soil of your homnd over the gold of foreignnds."


    Outside the walls of Chang''an, a sea of people, countless in number, gathered to bid farewell to the Holy Monk Xuanzang on his Journey to the West for Scriptures. Li Shimin held a cup of clear wine, scooped up a little gravel from the ground, and sprinkled it into the cup before speaking to Jiang Liu.


    Jiang Liu took the cup from Li Shimin''s hands, with great solemnity, drank it in one gulp, and handed it back to him, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this monk understands and will surely not forget his original intention today."


    As he took back the cup, Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction at Jiang Liu''s response.


    To this day, Li Shimin hade to fully understand the arrangements of Buddhism. With treasures by his side for his journey to the West, he believed that the Buddhist Sect would surely look after him no matter the demons and ghosts he faced, and they could not harm his life.


    What Li Shimin worried about was whether this western journey would change his mindset, but now, it seemed he understood his own mind.


    After saying goodbye to Li Shimin, Jiang Liu turned back to see countlessmoners and monks bidding him farewell. It was clear that the arrival of the Bodhisattva in the human realm during the water andnd ceremony days ago, assigning him the heavy responsibility of seeking scriptures in the West, had spread throughout thend, prompting people toe and send him off voluntarily.


    After Emperor Tang, Li Shimin, stepped back, the Saint Monk Longhai walked forward.


    "Amitabha, though there are many hardships ahead, if one seeds, one can achieve Bodhi, which is truly enviable," he said with palms pressed together and bowed. Saint Monk Longhai did not treat Jiang Liu like a junior. Instead, he treated him as an equal.


    "These days, thank you for your care, Holy Monk," Jiang Liu replied, bowing to Saint Monk Longhai in return.


    However, he did not respond to his words of envy.


    Indeed, from the perspective of all monks in the world, though the Journey to the West stretched over one hundred and eighty thousand miles through distant mountains and long roads, the opportunity to witness the true Buddha and the promise by the Bodhisattva of a golden body upon sess was something all monks envied.


    Yet, if he had a choice, he would be absolutely unwilling to go, but at this point, it was not apt to voice such sentiments.


    After bidding farewell to Emperor Tang and Saint Monk Longhai, Jiang Liu''s gaze swept over the monks and people in the distance, and he waved to them.


    After all, how could he ignore these people who had willinglye to send him off?


    "We bid farewell to the Holy Monk and wish him a sessful journey to obtain the True Scriptures and return!" Watching Jiang Liu wave back, themoners and monks who hade to bid farewell were somewhat excited and shouted in unison loudly.


    With a slight nod, Jiang Liu did not respond but led his white horse to the side. He packed all the necessary gear into his storage space, presenting a light and agile appearance. He then swiftly mounted the horse in a very handsome manner.


    "Drive!" With a spirited demeanor, Jiang Liu pped the horse''s rump and shouted loudly. Experience more content on empire


    The white horse raised its hooves and dashed forward like an arrow, very fast, as Emperor Tang Li Shimin naturally provided him with the best steed for his scripture-seeking journey.


    Wow-ah!


    His mounting pose was stylish, and his riding posture wasmendable. But as the horse leaped forward, Jiang Liu unexpectedly screamed and then quickly clung to the horse''s neck, his shouts trailing off into the distance.


    At the gate of Chang''an City, Li Shimin and Longhai looked at each other in astonishment.


    After a slight hesitation, Li Shimin asked, "It seems that our Imperial Brother is not very skilled in horsemanship."


    "Cough cough, as far as I know, Jinshan Temple has always been rather financially strained, and Xuanzang grew up there. He probably never rode a horse before," replied Saint Monk Longhai somewhat awkwardly, in a low voice.


    ...


    Experience Points +2.


    Experience Points +2.


    Experience Points +2.


    Dragging time, two months had passed in a sh.


    As dawn broke and the belly of the fish flipped white in the sky, Jiang Liu stopped his cultivation and opened his eyes.


    Since leaving Chang''an City, two months had passed. During these two months, the loneliness of traveling alone and friendless, unprecedented for him, made Jiang Liu feel very ufortable.


    Originally, for Jiang Liu, the Journey to the West was a game against Tathagata, where the stakes were his and Gaoyang''s lives. Therefore, it was essential for Jiang Liu to increase his strength as much as possible before reaching Western Spirit Mountain.


    Therefore, Jiang Liu was in no rush toplete the Journey to the West. On the contrary, the slower he traveled, the better.


    Since his horseback riding skills were poor, any carelessness could lead to falling off a fast-running horse. Additionally, he was not in a hurry to rush the journey, so Jiang Liu simply let the horse go early on and traveled on foot.


    Walking and stopping intermittently, encountering fierce beasts to fight along the way and sitting down to rest and practice the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound during spare moments, two months passed unwittingly, and Jiang Liu still had not left the territory of Great Tang.


    However, it must be said, these two months of rigorous practice and ying some venomous beasts and demons had earned him quite a few experience points, elevating his level from 16 to 19.


    With a level 19 status coupled with the amplification from his equipment, even facing an upright-walking Demon Soldier, Jiang Liu could fend for himself in a battle.


    Unlike initially when just one injured Wolf Demon had nearly cost him and Gaoyang their lives.


    The next morning, after meditating overnight, washing up, and straightening himself out a bit, Jiang Liu continued on the Journey to the West. After walking half the day and feeling famished, he suddenly noticed arge mountain in the distance resembling a giant palm.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "A few days ago, I had asked about it, and if one walks a few hundred more miles forward, one would leave the borders of Great Tang. Could that be the Mount of the Two Realms?" Jiang Liu thought to himself as he looked at the distant mountain shaped like a palm.


    Back at Great Buddha Temple, he had inquired about Sun Wukong from Saint Monk Longhai.


    The mountain suppressing Sun Wukong was originally named Five Elements Mountain, but during Emperor of Tang Li Shimin''s western expedition to stabilize the nation, it was renamed Mount of the Two Realms, signifying the boundary of Great Tang. Crossing this mountain meant leaving the territory of Great Tang.


    Thinking of the Five Elements Mountain that was suppressing Sun Wukong right before him, Jiang Liu quickened his pace and swiftly walked towards it.


    Though the Journey to the West encouraged dying, being a modern-era traveler, Sun Wukong''s renowned name was universally known and admired.


    At this moment, with Sun Wukong right before him and even potentially bing his disciple, Jiang Liu hurried along, his mood somewhat stirred.


    "Elder, please walk slowly. I am Liu Boqin, known as the Mountain-Guarding Marshal. Since we have met, we are surely destined. I invite you to rest at my humble abode for a while.


    I will serve you vegetarian dishes to disy my devotion to Buddhism," said a burly man with bow and arrows on his back, who approached Jiang Liu with a friendly demeanor as he saw him walking fast towards the Mount of the Two Realms.


    "Thank you, benefactor. However, this monk has urgent matters to attend to. Perhaps another time..." Jiang Liu paused slightly in his steps and responded as the man stopped him.


    With those words, Jiang Liu passed by the man and continued on his way.


    "Elder, I am not a wrongdoer. I saw you were travel-worn, so I thought...," said the man, chasing after Jiang Liu a few steps and calling out.


    "No time."

 Chapter 83 Where is Sun Wukong...?

    After shaking off the entangling Liu Boqin, Jiang Liu quickly walked towards the Five Elements Mountain.


    Legend has it that it was transformed from the palm of the Tathagata, concealing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Even though it''s called Five Elements Mountain, its shape resembles a hand, so it''s also known as Five-Finger Mountain.


    The journey was about twenty Chinese miles through the wilderness without a beaten path. So, even with Jiang Liu''s brisk pace, it still took him nearly a Chinese hour to reach the foot of the Five Elements Mountain.


    As originally described in the novel, Sun Wukong was suppressed under the mountain. Jiang Liu thought about it and decided to walk around the Five Elements Mountain to search.


    Since it resembled a palm, the Five Elements Mountain looked very steep; however, its area wasn''t quite extensive. Circling it would cover just over ten Chinese miles. Thus, after about half a Chinese hour, Jiang Liu had walked around it once.


    But he found nothing.


    "What''s going on!?" Back at the starting point of his circr walk without having found any trace of Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu waspletely bewildered, with no idea what was happening.


    In the modern world, there''s no shortage of film and TV adaptations of ''Journey to the West,'' and almost every version features Sun Wukong waiting under Five Elements Mountain for the Tang Monk to arrive. As soon as he sensed someone, Sun Wukong would immediately shout out loud, urging the Tang Monk to quickly save him from the mountain.


    But now that he was here, not only did Sun Wukong not shout out, Jiang Liu had even walked a full circle around the Five Elements Mountain without catching a glimpse of him.


    Could it be that he had arrived in a fake version of ''Journey to the West''?


    Could it be that although Sun Wukong was said to be suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain, he was not at the foot but halfway up the mountain?


    Or was it that Sun Wukong was asleep at this time, not noticing his arrival?


    Thinking it over, he was indeed at Five Elements Mountain, Jiang Liu concluded. He followed up by climbing up the mountain and searching around the midsection.


    He even shouted several times, hoping to attract Sun Wukong''s attention, or at least to wake him up if he was asleep.


    After about a Chinese hour of searching without even finding a single monkey hair, Jiang Liu paused his steps when he spotted something else. Continue reading on empire


    On Five Elements Mountain, an old and somewhat yellowed Buddha Seal was attached to the mountainside. Despite being weathered by sun and rain over many years, the six sybles of the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" could still be clearly seen on the Buddha Seal.


    Quite obviously, a mere mountain couldn''t suppress Sun Wukong. It was the Tathagata''s Buddha Seal that truly kept him under control.


    "Since the Buddha Seal is here, Sun Wukong should be suppressed under Five Elements Mountain, so why is he not here?" Jiang Liu wondered, looking at the Tathagata''s Buddha Seal but failing to understand why Sun Wukong was gone.


    Gurgle.


    After walking for a Chinese hour and searching for nearly two more, the sun was now high in the sky. Six hours had passed, and his stomach was growling with hunger. Jiang Liu touched his belly and found a rtively clean spot on the grass to sit down.


    He opened his storage space;cking the desire to cook, he took out some steamed buns and water. Nibbling on the buns and sipping water, he pondered over the whereabouts of Sun Wukong.


    Logically, Sun Wukong should be suppressed here under Five Elements Mountain, shouldn''t he? Could it be he managed to leave on his own?


    "Wait a minute, I remember watching a very old movie when I was young. Sun Wukong could leave the Five-Finger Mountain at will. Could it be? Is it like what that movie depicted?" Jiang Liu paused while eating his steamed bun, then shook his head, thinking such a possibility was very slim.


    Then he remembered Liu Boqin, who had been pulling at him earlier.


    In the original story, he too was quite an important supporting character, even needing his rescue at one point. Could it be? Because he didn''t stay with Liu Boqin and went straight past him, that''s why he couldn''t find Sun Wukong?


    Is it like when ying a video game, if you don''t clear the previous levels, even if you rush to theter ones, you still won''t see the BOSS?


    Take Super Mario for example, if you jump over the gpole without bringing the g down, then you can''t enter the castle?


    "You''re kidding, right? Although the Golden Finger I carry is a gaming system, this is after all the real world, and besides, whether or not Sun Wukong is here, how could it possibly be up to a mere Liu Boqin to decide?", shaking his head, Jiang Liu cast aside all the chaotic thoughts from his mind.


    Because he hadn''t found Sun Wukong, it seemed he was letting his imagination run a bit wild.


    After suppressing all the chaotic thoughts in his mind, he carelessly ate a couple of steamed buns and drank some water, then Jiang Liu felt that he should continue searching on Five Elements Mountain.


    If he really couldn''t find him, then he might have to turn back and look for Liu Boqin after all; who knows, he might actually know something?


    Since he was nicknamed the Mountain-Guarding Marshal, he must be very familiar with this area and might indeed know where Sun Wukong is.


    Jiang Liu spent the afternoon wandering aimlessly on Five Elements Mountain, waited until dusk when the setting sun turned red, and after still finding nothing, he shook his head helplessly and left Five Elements Mountain to head back the way he came.


    Although he didn''t know the reason, it seemed that Sun Wukong had truly disappeared, and he would have to go ask Liu Boqin after all.


    If there were any clues to be found about Sun Wukong''s whereabouts, they would have to be from him.


    As the sky grew dark, indeed, he saw Liu Boqining towards him.


    In what seemed like good luck for the day, Liu Boqin was carrying a wild boar that weighed roughly fifty pounds, clearly returning with a full haul.


    "Uh, Elder? You, what are you doing?", upon seeing Jiang Liu returning, Liu Boqin was momentarily startled and asked in surprise.


    Hadn''t he seen him early in the morning, leaving hurriedly? Why had hee back at dusk?


    "Benefactor Liu, you are known as the Mountain-Guarding Marshal, so you must be very familiar with this area, right?", Jiang Liu straightened himself up, brought his palms together, and after giving a bow, he asked.


    "I dare not deceive the Elder, I have lived here for several decades. Within tens of miles, I can remember the position of every single tree", Liu Boqin said, nodding.


    "That''s good."


    Upon hearing Liu Boqin''s response, Jiang Liu nodded and then turned to point at Five Elements Mountain: "Below Mount of the Two Realms ahead, there''s a rumor about a monkey being suppressed. Do you know about it?"


    "Of course, I know. I''ve even seen it many times," Liu Boqin replied promptly.


    "Do you know where exactly that monkey is suppressed? I heard about this oddity and wanted to take a look, but I haven''t been able to find it all day," Jiang Liu pressed after hearing Liu Boqin''s answer.


    "That''s impossible. As far as I can remember, that monkey has always been suppressed in the same ce. It''s been said that it''s been there for generations," Liu Boqin''s reply, in turn, surprised Jiang Liu.


    After pondering for a moment, Liu Boqin said, "Elder, it is alreadyte today, and there are many poisonous insects and fierce beasts at night. Instead of continuing, how about you rest at my humble abode tonight, and early tomorrow, I will lead you to find that monkey?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After a slight hesitation, considering the sky was indeed turning dark and the mountain paths were difficult to navigate, Jiang Liu nodded: "In that case, I thank you, Benefactor."


    After the conversation, Jiang Liu felt even more puzzled.


    Where on earth had Sun Wukong gone? Why did everyone else seem to know, yet he himself couldn''t find him?

 Chapter 84 Is this monkey so cheeky?

    Liu Boqin, besides going up the mountain to hunt, had also cleared a small vegetable garden next to his house, where many vegetables seemed to be growing quite well.


    "Elder, please rest for a while and have some water. I will go and prepare a vegetarian meal for you," Liu Boqin warmly said after inviting Jiang Liu to sit down.


    "Wait, Benefactor Liu, I do have some knowledge in the Art of Kitchen, so allow me to handle it today. You just go and cleanly ughter that wild boar," Jiang Liu interjected upon hearing Liu Boqin''s words.


    In the Tang Dynasty at that time, the methods of cooking were fairly simple, involving either roasting, boiling, or steaming, and there were hardly any other culinary techniques avable, which Jiang Liu, ustomed to stir-fried dishes, found quite unsatisfying.


    Since he was staying as a guest and was asking for help in finding Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu didn''t mind showing off his cooking skills to let Liu Boqin taste his craftsmanship.


    "Ah? Elder, you mean, this wild boar...?" Jiang Liu''s words made Liu Boqin pause in confusion.


    Monks eat vegetarian, don''t they?


    "Benefactor Liu, please go ahead, I do not abstain from meat," seeing Liu Boqin''s astonished look, Jiang Liu said with a slight smile.


    Liu Boqin went to clean up the wild boar while Jiang Liu set up a frame outside and took a wok out from his storage space.


    On his long Journey to the West, since he had such a means as a storage space, he brought everything he could carry, including clothes, silver, and even pots and pans.


    This wok was specially crafted by an artisan when Jiang Liu was in Chang''an City.


    Soon, Liu Boqin skillfully handled the wild boar, and Jiang Liu cut out arge piece of fat.


    The fat was sliced and ced in the wok to render therd.


    Naturally, oil is essential for stir-frying. Without vegetable oil, he had to extract animal fat from the pork fat.


    As the fat shriveled in the wok, all of the oil from the fat was fried out, releasing a tantalizing aroma ofrd that made Liu Boqin twitch his nose several times and lick his lips.


    It smelled delicious.


    In no time, Jiang Liu had prepared a big pot of braised wild boar with Chinese cabbage, and the rich meaty aroma was sopelling that Liu Boqin ended up eating three bowls of rice, filling his stomach to the brim.


    Having had only some steamed buns at noon on Five Elements Mountain, Jiang Liu also ate heartily that evening.


    Arge pot of braised wild boar with Chinese cabbage waspletely devoured by the two of them.


    "Indeed, in life, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, food is the most important," touching his belly, Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction.


    "Elder, you are the most unusual monk I have ever met. Your cooking is truly delicious," Liu Boqin said with a satisfied chuckle after he had eaten.


    At that, pausing slightly, he added, "But Elder, why do you differ from other monks and not abstain from meat?"


    "The wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha stays in the heart; my cultivation has reached such a level that I no longer need to adhere to these disciplinary rules," Jiang Liu answered, with his palms pressed together.


    "Elder, your words carry the essence of Zen, but if all monks in the world used this as their excuse to eat meat, wouldn''t it mean they are neither monks nor Buddhas?" Liu Boqin asked.


    "Actually, there''s a second part to that verse: if themon people were to copy me, it would be like falling into the Demon Path," Jiang Liu spoke up,pleting the Buddhist verse.


    "Elder, you mean, you''re allowed to eat, but others aren''t?" Jiang Liu''s words made Liu Boqin look at him skeptically, obviously not fully believing him.


    Even a nce at the Vidyaraja Crown on Jiang Liu''s head made him doubt the monk''s identity.


    He didn''t seem to behave like a monk at all.


    Officials may start fires whilemon folks mustn''t even lightmps¡ªperhaps that was what Liu Boqin was thinking?


    "Amitabha," seeing Liu Boqin''s doubtful expression, Jiang Liu softly chanted a Buddhist mantra and removed the Vidyaraja Crown from his head.


    Taking in the twelve Incense Scar Initiations visible on Jiang Liu''s head made Liu Boqin''s eyes widen.


    "You, you are the Holy Monk Xuanzang going to the Western Heaven for scriptures!?" looking at the twelve Incense Scar Initiations on Jiang Liu''s head made Liu Boqin''s eyes widen even more.


    As he spoke, he quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and kneeled down in front of Jiang Liu.


    "Benefactor Liu, what are you doing?" Seeing Liu Boqin''s vehement reaction, Jiang Liu quickly pulled him up.


    "Holy Monk Xuanzang, forgive me for not recognizing a great man when I see one. His Majesty once said that seeing you is like seeing His Majesty himself, so naturally, I should kneel," Liu Boqin said urgently.


    "It''s all right, there are no outsiders here, no need for such formalities," Jiang Liu said, shaking his head as he helped Liu Boqin up from the ground.


    Perhaps because he had traveled from modern society, Jiang Liu actually quite disliked this sort of impulsive kneeling.


    It wasn''t just kneeling before others he found distasteful; simrly, he didn''t quite enjoy others kneeling before him.


    "By the way, as my journey is long and the mountains far, could I buy the wild boar you hunted today?" Not wanting to linger on the issue of status, Jiang Liu opened his mouth to change the subject.


    "What are you saying, Holy Monk? Being able to taste your cooking today is already a tremendous fortune. How could I dare ept your silver for just some meat? You''re being too kind," Liu Boqin quickly waved his hands, firmly refusing to take any money.


    "Then I thank you greatly, Benefactor," since Liu Boqin firmly refused to ept, Jiang Liu naturally did not insist further.


    After eating his fill, Jiang Liu stowed away all the prepared wild boar meat and went back to bed to rest.


    Sitting cross-legged, he silently practiced the Cultivation Technique of Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, gradually increasing his experience points.


    The night passed without incident, and after cultivating for the entire evening, he had gained several thousand experience points.


    The next day, Jiang Liu rose early, washed up, and then ced two silver coins under the mattress before pulling Liu Boqin along to head for Five Elements Mountain early in the morning.


    Regardless, as a mountain hunter living a modest life, a wild boar weighing several tens of pounds and his overnight lodging demanded he leave some money, lest he be ill at ease.


    Although it seemed to be an unwritten rule for monks to beg and receive free food and shelter, Jiang Liu himself could not bring himself to do it.


    Ever since leaving Chang''an, he had never freeloaded. Money matters were trivial; at least, having a clear conscience was what truly mattered.


    The journey towards Five Elements Mountain was not far, and early in the morning, he and Liu Boqin made good time.


    It was evident that Liu Boqin was very familiar with the surroundings and also knew exactly where Sun Wukong was imprisoned, purposefully leading the way straight there.


    Actually, Jiang Liu was very puzzled. Logically, Guanyin should have already informed Sun Wukong to wait for his rescue, so why hadn''t Sun Wukong shouted for help yesterday when he searched the mountainside? Hadn''t he seen a single monkey hair?


    Something was definitely off. Or could it be that this Journey to the West he had traveled to was different from the original?


    Or was it the so-called butterfly effect?


    Lost in numerous thoughts and following behind Liu Boqin, they soon arrived at the base of Five Elements Mountain.


    "Elder, do you see that peach tree? The Divine Monkey is pressed right beside it," Liu Boqin said, pointing to a peach tree near a mountainside not far away.


    Jiang Liu had seen this peach tree yesterday too, but had noticed nothing around it.


    However, a pile of dry leaves at the base of the cliff caught Jiang Liu''s attention.


    Could it be...


    A thought struck Jiang Liu, and he quickly strode over, parting a pile of inconspicuous dry leaves.


    Indeed, a monkey, half its body crushed under the mountain, and the other half buried in the dry leaves.


    "You can''t see me, you can''t see me..." As the leaves were parted, Jiang Liu could hear the monkey muttering quietly.


    "Is this monkey always this crafty?" Jiang Liu''s lips twitched slightly as he listened to Sun Wukong''s murmuring. Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    No wonder he hadn''t found him yesterday; he had intentionally buried himself under the dry leaves to hide.


    "Ahem, Sun Wukong, right? I..." Clearing his throat with a cough, Jiang Liu began to speak.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But as soon as Jiang Liu started speaking, Sun Wukong''s voice resolutely cut him off.


    "I''m not going!"

 Chapter 85 Eating Iron Pills When Hungry, Drinking Copper Juice When Thirsty

    ```


    He was stunned. The words of Sun Wukong rendered Jiang Liu speechless, unsure of how to proceed.


    "Gaga..." Half of Sun Wukong''s body was pinned down, as hey on the ground, grinning at Jiang Liu''s confused face, scratching his ears and cheeks in apparent delight, and let out a triumphant, eerieugh.


    Thisughter wasden with irony.


    Indeed, he was stunned. At this moment, Jiang Liu was truly at a loss. ording to the original Journey to the West plot, Guanyin already had an agreement with Sun Wukong. He would protect Jiang Liu on his journey to the Western Heaven and, in return, would gain his freedom and even attain Buddhahood.


    Therefore, Sun Wukong, who was eagerly longing for freedom, should be shouting out loud, actively asking Jiang Liu to save him.


    However, now that Jiang Liu had arrived, had there been a change in events? Sun Wukong actually didn''t want to go? And even intentionally hid from him, causing Jiang Liu to search in vain for him the entire previous day?


    Logically speaking, Jiang Liu shouldn''t know about Guanyin''s n, so it wouldn''t make sense for him to dwell on this matter.


    Fortunately, Jiang Liu had been cautious early on. When speaking with Liu Boqin, he only mentioned that he had heard about a Divine Monkey being suppressed here and wanted toe to see the novelty, nothing more.


    Even if the higher-ups in the Buddhist Sect found his behavior strange, they shouldn''t overthink it.


    Besides, Jiang Liu had already chatted with the Saint Monk Longhai at the Great Buddha Temple about the topic of Sun Wukong before, which could serve as a reasonable pretext for stopping by to take a look.


    Experience tales at empire


    "Um, when you say ''go,'' where exactly are you talking about? Could there be some misunderstanding?" After being stunned for a moment, Jiang Liu quickly thought it through and pretended not to understand Sun Wukong''s words, asking him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Humph, I, Old Sun, must ask you, are you the monk who agreed to Guanyin''s wish to go to the old Tathagata in the Western Heaven to seek the True Scriptures?" Sun Wukong sneered twice in mockery and squinted as he asked.


    "That''s right," Jiang Liu nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Humph, you bald monks are all the same, none of you are any good. A few days ago, Guanyin came by saying my disaster period was over, and told me to await you here to be your disciple and protect you on your Scripture Seeking journey to the Western Heaven. I, Old Sun, also agreed to her," Sun Wukong said after hearing Jiang Liu''s response.


    "Yes, that is indeed correct, which aligns with what is said in the original story," Jiang Liu mentally nodded to himself, then continued to question, "If that''s the case, you''ve already agreed to the Bodhisattva. So why go back on your word? Could there have been an unexpected urrence?"


    "Hehehe, an unexpected urrence?" Sun Wukong grinned, his face full of mischief, andughed heartily, "What unexpected urrence? I, Old Sun, found Guanyin annoying. I feigned agreement to trick you all, hahaha..."


    The way Sun Wukong replied, along with the look of triumph in hisughter, made the corners of Jiang Liu''s mouth twitch slightly.


    He also did not rush to argue with Sun Wukong but instead turned to Liu Boqin and said, "Thank you, Benefactor Liu, for bringing me here to find this monkey. However, from what he has said, it seems we have a master-disciple bond after all. I will need to take some time to enlighten him."


    "Very well, Holy Monk, even so, I shall not impose any further," understanding Jiang Liu''s intention, Liu Boqin nodded, bid farewell to Jiang Liu, and turned to leave.


    "Hehe, monk, you need note to enlighten me. No matter how eloquent your words are, I, Old Sun, shall not go. Even if I am suppressed here for another five hundred years, five thousand years, even if I die here, I shall never take one step with you towards the Western Heaven!"


    Lying on the ground, Sun Wukong watched Jiang Liu with a taunting look, a picture of someone who could not be swayed no matter the performance, resolute in his stance.


    "Ahem, if you won''t go, then so be it..."


    After clearing his throat, Jiang Liu did not insist on persuading him. Instead, he dusted off the ground beside him and sat down next to Sun Wukong without any hurry to depart, saying, "Monkey, if you''ve made up your mind not to go, of course, I can''t force you. However, having been suppressed under this mountain for five hundred years, you refuse toe out. Is there something you cannot let go of?


    Could we talk about it?"


    "Hehehe, you bald monks, from top to bottom are all filled with talk of benevolence and righteousness, yet in reality, you are cruel and ruthless, a bunch of turncoats. I, Old Sun, have nothing to discuss with you monks."


    ```


    However, despite Jiang Liu''s attempt toe off as a caring older brother, eager to have a sincere chat, Sun Wukong''s demeanor made it clear that he harbored deep prejudice against the Buddhist Sect. He turned his head away in a manner that showed he couldn''t be bothered to speak with Jiang Liu.


    A twitch in the corner of his eye, Jiang Liu truly felt like pping Sun Wukong a few times and then just hitting the road himself.


    With his own game system that allowed him to level up by fighting monsters, he probably didn''t even need Sun Wukong''s protection. Moreover, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were waiting for him further down the line. Even without Sun Wukong, he could still make the Journey to the West to seek the scriptures. Why should he humble himself before someone who clearly wasn''t interested?


    Besides, it was Guanyin Bodhisattva''s job to convince Sun Wukong to take him as his master. Jiang Liu was supposed to just show up, and Sun Wukong would immediately be overawed by his majestic aura, crying out to take him as his master and begging to be rescued. It should have been easy.


    But now, wasn''t he just cleaning up Guanyin''s mess?


    Still, the thought of walking away was just a fleeting temptation in Jiang Liu''s mind.


    In fact, from his own perspective, it would certainly be best if Sun Wukong directly emerged, shouting and begging to be saved and to take him as his master for the Journey to the West.


    Yet, the current behavior of Sun Wukong, contrary to what one might expect, actually pleased Jiang Liu.


    It wasn''t that Jiang Liu enjoyed suffering; his goal was what mattered. Once he reached Western Heaven, it would nearly be time to turn against the Buddhist Sect. The deeper Sun Wukong''s prejudice and resentment against the Buddhist Sect, the more Jiang Liu could trust him, right?


    If Sun Wukong''s hatred for the Buddhist Sect proved irreconcble, wouldn''t that align him with Jiang Liu?


    When the time came to face off against the Buddhist Sect, Sun Wukong would be all the more a valuable ally.


    He wasn''t in any rush to get to Western Heaven anyway; the longer he could dy, the better. So seeing Sun Wukong''s attitude, Jiang Liu wasn''t hurried either. He sat down cross-legged beside him and continued to practice the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound cultivation technique.


    This sittingsted the entire morning. Jiang Liu didn''t utter a single word, and Sun Wukongy on the ground bored out of his mind, doing nothing, with not a word spoken between them anymore.


    As the sun climbed high, and it seemed like it was around noon, Jiang Liu stood up. He gathered some firewood from the surroundings, set up a rack, arranged his tools, and took out the wild boar meat he had purchased from Liu Boqin.


    Hisss!


    Inside the iron pot, slices of fatty pork sizzled, and the renderedrd diffused a fragrant aroma that made Sun Wukong''s nose twitch a few times.


    Gurgle, gurgle!


    Clearly, Sun Wukong was hungry too; his stomach rumbled. He nced surreptitiously at Jiang Liu several times but said nothing, chuckling to himself: Could this monk be any more naive, thinking that by offering him some meaty food, he would change his mind?


    However, just at that moment, the ground split open and an old man with white hair and beard emerged¡ªit was the Local Deity.


    The slightly hunched Local Deity emerged from the ground, ced two bowls in front of Sun Wukong.


    "Sun Wukong, this is your meal for today."


    One bowl of Iron Pills and one bowl of Copper Juice.


    For five hundred years, it had been on Iron Pills and Copper Juice that Sun Wukong subsisted.

 Chapter 86 Tight Hoop Spell

    ```


    "Hmm? Are you the Local Deity?" Jiang Liu, who was setting up an iron pot to cook, saw the old grandfather emerging from the ground and asked.


    "As the Local Deity of thisnd, I pay my respects to the Holy Monk," the Local Deity with white hair and beard, after cing the Iron Pills and Copper Juice in front of Sun Wukong, bended down in a bow towards Jiang Liu.


    "No, please don''t bow," Jiang Liu hastily said, seeing the elderly Local Deity bending to pay respects and quickly helped him straighten up.


    During the conversation, Jiang Liu nced at the two bowls in front of Sun Wukong, hesitating slightly before asking, "Does this monkey eat these things every day?"


    "Holy Monk, you have no idea! The Great Saint, five hundred years ago, caused Havoc in Heaven, which led to a catastrophe. He was personally suppressed here by the Tathagata, and the Jade Emperor decreed that he should eat Iron Pills when hungry and drink Copper Juice when thirsty, to atone for the sins of his past," the Local Deity exined, seeing a look of sympathy in Jiang Liu''s eyes.


    "Well then, I have other matters to attend to, so I won''t trouble the Holy Monk any further. Farewell," the Local Deity said after his exnation, showing no intention of staying and excused himself.


    "Wait, Local Deity, since you''vee, why don''t you join us for a meal? I''m just getting it ready," Jiang Liu, with the spirit of someone from modern society, thought it was the most basic courtesy to invite someone for a meal at mealtimes.


    "Thank you, Holy Monk," the Local Deity was secretly touched by Jiang Liu''s offer to share his meal but had already decided to leave. After bidding farewell with folded hands, he disappeared into the ground.


    "Hmph, you Monk, are quite interesting. But you''re just a Local Deity, a Low Level Earth Immortal. Why bother to please him so much?"


    Sun Wukong, nearby, pinched an Iron Pill, popped it into his mouth, and crunched,ughing scornfully as he spoke.


    "I don''t like what you''ve said," Jiang Liu turned to nce at Sun Wukong as the Monkey initiated the conversation and responded, "ording to what the Local Deity just said, you''re still a prisoner. Am I not here talking with you? By the way, do you want a share of the meal I''m preparing?"


    "No!" Jiang Liu''s words angered Sun Wukong, who bared his teeth in a furious expression and retorted, "How ignorant can a Monk be, to evenpare I, Old Sun, with the Local Deity? In the past, when I, Old Sun, caused Havoc in Heaven, not even a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers could..."


    "And then? Now you''re still being suppressed here?" Jiang Liu didn''t let Sun Wukong dwell on his past glory, interrupting him without any sign of politeness and threw cold water on his reminiscing.


    "Hmph, if it wasn''t for the Tathagata''s deception back in the day, how could I be in this plight? All of you from the Buddhist Sect, everyst one of you deserves to die!" Jiang Liu''s words seemed to ignite Sun Wukong''s ferocity, and a fierce light shed in his eyes as he shouted with his teeth bared.


    The fierce Sun Wukong struggled violently, as if trying to break free from the Five Elements Mountain, and the whole mountain began to shake.


    However, in just a moment, the Buddha Seal on the Five Elements Mountain shed with light, and the mountain that Sun Wukong had slightly lifted pressed down again heavily, immobilizing himpletely.


    "Sss..." Seeing this, Jiang Liu stepped back in shock, watching the Monkey trapped beneath the mountain in awe.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Although he had learned of Sun Wukong''s power from the original story, knowing it on paper and witnessing it firsthand were totally different things.


    To nearly lift a mountain, witnessing such power with his own eyes was truly astonishing.


    As the Five Elements Mountain pressed down again, Sun Wukongy on the ground motionless, as if he had died.


    "Hey, Sun Wukong, are you still alive?" The fierce burst from Sun Wukong had truly terrified Jiang Liu; deservedly a Demon Saint, Jiang Liu didn''t dare to approach for a moment, and with a stick, he poked towards Sun Wukong.


    "Scram, don''t bother I, Old Sun," pressed down by the Five Elements Mountain, Sun Wukong''s ferocity seemed to scatter like smoke. Lying on the ground, he didn''t raise his head and flung the stick away.


    Seeing that Sun Wukong was alright, Jiang Liu didn''t say anything more and went aside to resume cooking.


    ```


    The recent tremor from Five Elements Mountain had kicked up countless particles of dust, which meant the food had to be prepared all over again.


    "Hey, Monkey, I saw you throwing a tantrum just now, knocking over your own food. Are you really not going to eat this?"


    "You don''t want it, huh? Then I''ll eat it myself."


    "Monkey, I know you''re not asleep. Here''s another banana; I''ve ced it by your side."


    ...


    Today, Sun Wukong recalled the days when he caused Havoc in Heaven and then remembered how he was deceived by the Tathagata, being trapped under Five Elements Mountain. His five hundred years'' worth of resentment and hatred erupted.


    But after being suppressed again, he was not in high spirits. No matter what Jiang Liu said, he justy on the ground, offering no response.


    Shaking his head to himself and noting theteness of the hour, Jiang Liu ced a banana beside Sun Wukong. Then, he moved to the side, sat down cross-legged, and continued to revolve the cultivation technique of Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound to enhance his own Experience Points.


    However, during his cultivation, Jiang Liu seemed to fall into a state between sleep and wakefulness, where in his dream, he encountered Bodhisattva Guanyin.


    In the dream, Guanyin handed him a golden hoop and imparted to him a mantra within the same dream.


    "Xuanzang, remember this, it is the Tight Hoop Spell. While the Monkey remains unaware, ce it upon his head. Once on, this hoop will grow into his flesh and cannot be removed. Recite this Tight Hoop Spell, and it will cause him immense headache. At that time, he will dare not disobey you," Guanyin instructed seriously in the dream.


    Ding: Experience Points +2.


    Ding: Experience Points +2.


    Awakening from his dream, the system notifications continued as usual, the Experience Points umting bit by bit, causing Jiang Liu to shake his head to himself.


    Had he fallen asleep while cultivating Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound?


    However, when he shook his head, suddenly, Jiang Liu''s gaze sharply focused.


    By his feet, a golden hoopy quietly, exactly as it had appeared in his dream.


    "Is this the Tight Hoop?" Bending over to pick up the golden hoop, Jiang Liu muttered to himself, pondering for a moment before deciding to keep it for the time being.


    For the next half a month, Jiang Liu stayed at Five Elements Mountain, cultivating and eating meat, in no rush to set off, and never speaking another word to Sun Wukong. It was as if he had settled down at the foot of Five Elements Mountain.


    During these days, as Jiang Liu never spoke, Sun Wukong also did not initiate conversation with him. It was as though both had be invisible to each other.


    The power of habit is terrifying. Without realizing it, Sun Wukong slowly adapted to the days with Jiang Liu at Five Elements Mountain.


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    One day, afterpleting his cultivation, Jiang Liu set out various ingredients and began busy himself.


    No matter how important cultivation was or how pressing time seemed, eating well was still essential.


    "Hey, Little Monk, why haven''t you asked me if I want to eat thesest few days?"

 Chapter 87 I Hold a Grudge that Wont Dissipate for Five Hundred Years

    Sun Wukong, from his abdomen down, was pinned under Five Elements Mountain, lying face down on the ground, but in front of him was ced arge sea bowl.


    A half bowl of rice and half a bowl of vegetables, a mix of meat and vegetables, rice soaked in vegetable broth, Sun Wukong ate with oil dripping from his mouth, in an utterly carefree manner.


    Jiang Liu, beside him, watched Sun Wukong eat with the voracity of a starving ghost reincarnated, his mouth twitching slightly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was as if he hadn''t eaten for hundreds of years.


    Was it because he had been hungry for too long, or was it because his own cooking was delicious?


    "Mmm, tasty, you this Little Monk, um, this meal is really delicious," with his mouth full of food, Sun Wukong''s voice even changed pitch as he spoke.


    Seeing Sun Wukong enjoying his meal so much, it seemed that all his attention was on the food, Jiang Liu simply put down his own bowl and chopsticks and watched him eat.


    After a brief hesitation, he reached into his robe, where a tight hood felt icy to the touch.


    "You Monk, you are different from the other monks I have seen," while eating, Sun Wukong suddenly looked up at Jiang Liu and said.


    "Different? What do you mean?"


    After all, they had been together at the foot of Five Elements Mountain for half a month and were somewhat familiar. Indeed, Sun Wukong was frightening when his malevolent aura burst forth, but usually, he was very calm.


    "Other monks, they all hold to some precepts, a bunch of messy rules, but I see you don''t," said Sun Wukong.


    "Maybe because from the very beginning, I never thought of bing a monk?" Jiang Liu said softly, after a brief silence, in a somber tone. Read thetest on empire


    This statement made the monkey''s rapid eating slow for a moment.


    Looking up at Jiang Liu, after a moment of silence, he asked, "So, why do you want to go to the Western Heaven for scriptures? Is it because Tathagata promised you a Golden Body and true fruit?"


    "Why?," Jiang Liu looked up slightly towards the direction of Western Heaven, falling silent for a moment before saying, "Perhaps, it''s to have a meal."


    "Just for a meal? You wouldn''t hesitate to endure hardships, traveling tens of thousands of miles to the Western Heaven?"


    "Just for this meal!"


    "Hehehe, interesting¡­"


    Sun Wukong grinned and, energizing his chopsticks, scooped thest bits of food into his mouth, then set the bowl and chopsticks aside, propped his head with both hands, looked at Jiang Liu with the demeanor of watching a y, and said, "You, Little Monk, seem to have quite the story. Tell it to I, Old Sun?"


    "It all started in a dpidated Jinshan Temple..." Jiang Liu sat down on the ground, his gaze bing distant as he reminisced.


    As a Novice Monk at Jinshan Temple, then meeting Gaoyang, the Incense Offering Ceremony, and so on, he briefly went over the events of the recent half-year with Sun Wukong.


    Maybe because he had left Chang''an City and walked alone for two months with no one to talk to, Jiang Liu was quite chatty.


    And Sun Wukong? Almost alone under Five Elements Mountain for so long, it was rare to have someone talk and tell him stories, which seemed pretty nice.


    "So, Poor Monk travelled westward for about two months, and finally arrived at Mount of the Two Realms," so much had happened over thest half year, and several hours had passed by the time he recounted it.


    "Gahaha, too funny, gaga¡­" However, hearing Jiang Liu''s experiences, Sun Wukong suddenly let out a strangeugh.


    If he wasn''t oppressed by the mountain, perhaps he would''ve somersaulted several times by now.


    "Monkey, what are youughing at?" Jiang Liu asked, looking at Sun Wukong with surprise.


    "I, Old Sun,ugh because you''re even more foolish than I was back then, and even more at those Heavenly Deities, not just calcting against others but so ruthlessly against their own," Sun Wukong said with a strangeugh, looking at Jiang Liu as if he were an idiot.


    "Amitabha, then what do you think, from my position, should I have done to save Gaoyang?" Unoffended by Sun Wukong''s mockery, Jiang Liu simply countered.


    "..." Jiang Liu''s words left Sun Wukong speechless, unsure of what to answer.


    Indeed, from Jiang Liu''s position, when he wanted to save Gaoyang, it seemed his only option was to appeal to Buddha.


    "Monkey, now that you have heard my story, what about yours? Would you like to tell it?" Jiang Liu said, noticing Sun Wukong''s hesitancy and inability to respond. He did not press on his question but instead shifted the topic to Sun Wukong.


    "My story''s events are all from a long time ago, nothing worth mentioning, and I''ve already forgotten them," Sun Wukong said, waving his hand, clearly unwilling to talk about what had happened to him.


    Having eaten his fill and listened to an exciting story, Sun Wukongy satisfied on the ground, and soon, the sound of his snoring filled the air as he fell into a deep sleep.


    With a slight smile, Jiang Liu said nothing more. He cleaned up the dishes and washed them, then sat cross-legged under a nearby peach tree, continuing his cultivation of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.


    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    Tip: Experience Points +2.


    ...


    Immersing his mind in cultivation, umting experience points bit by bit, Jiang Liu was getting closer and closer to level 20.


    Unconsciously, time passed quickly, and it was already deep into the night.


    Late at night, Sun Wukong opened his eyes and his gaze fell on Jiang Liu sitting beside him, watching him intently.


    Was Jiang Liu deceiving him? Trying to trick him into leaving the mountain to protect him on a journey to obtain the scriptures from the West? Sun Wukong thought it unlikely.


    After all, concerning his affairs, with a single leap to the Great Tang, anyone he asked would know the truth, so there was no need to deceive him.


    "Hey, Little Monk, you want to know Old Sun''s story, right? Since we''re free, Old Sun will tell you about it," Sun Wukong suddenly said, interrupting the meditative silence.


    Opening his eyes, Jiang Liu stopped his cultivation and sat down beside Sun Wukong, "Let''s hear it."


    "Old Sun''s story, well, it''s even longer. Back in the day, Old Sun was just a stone egg on the Flower Fruit Mountain, born from the essence of heaven and earth ¡­"


    Sun Wukong''s eyes became distant as he talked about his past, and his emotions fluctuated.


    The days on Flower Fruit Mountain brought him joy;


    Cultivating under Ancestor Bodhi filled him with nostalgia;


    Creating havoc in the Underworld, tearing up the Book of Life and Death, entering the Dragon Pce to steal the Sea Calming Needle, raising Havoc in Heaven, and fighting with numerous heavenly deities and Buddhas made him spirited and vehement.


    "But in the end, Old Sun was tricked, deceived by that old Tathagata," Sun Wukong''s mood fell as he finished.


    "Tricked? How so?" Jiang Liu asked, curious, as this wasn''t the first time Sun Wukong had spoken in such a manner.


    "Back then, I wagered with Tathagata that if I could fly out of the Buddha''s Palm Paradise he held, I would win; if not, I would lose. Why would Old Sun take such a risk? I pressed him, saying if Old Sun won, the Great Jade Emperor should abdicate in favor of Old Sun," he exined.


    "But that old Tathagata deceived me, agreeing to it, saying I could rule as Jade Emperor, forcing Old Sun to keep his word," Sun Wukong continued.


    "This ¡­" Sun Wukong''s words struck a chord in Jiang Liu, indeed it was so.


    Tathagata extended the Buddha''s Palm Paradise and let Sun Wukong jump into it himself¡ªwasn''t that walking right into a trap? Sun Wukong naturally was reluctant.


    Therefore, iming he would take over as the Jade Emperor if he won was a way to back Tathagata into a corner, expecting a refusal.


    Yet, although Tathagata couldn''t really grant him the rule as Jade Emperor, he still agreed, forcing Sun Wukong to jump down¡ªwasn''t this deception?


    "Furthermore..." Sun Wukong paused slightly, his tone more resentful.


    "At the time, that old Tathagata also said, if Old Sun couldn''t leap from his palm, he would let me return to the Lower Realm and asked me to stop causing trouble in the Heavenly Court; Old Sun agreed," Sun Wukong added.


    "But what happened in the end? Old Sun lost, but he broke his promise and didn''t release me. Instead, he pressed me under this Five Elements Mountain..."


    "That Tathagata, regardless of winning or losing, he broke his promise, deceiving Old Sun. As the leader of Buddhism, he is still so deceitful and untrustworthy, showing that none of you from the Buddhist Sect are good," Sun Wukong concluded bitterly.

 Chapter 88 Would You Like to Overthrow All the Heavenly Deities and Buddhas with Me?

    Because of the lies told by the Tathagata, Sun Wukong had been suppressed under the mountain for five hundred years, and his resentment, far from being diminished, had be as rich and potent as aged wine over time.


    After five hundred years, one can imagine how far things had gone.


    "Hehehe..." After recounting the events that had happened to him to Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong grinned andughed mockingly, "That Guanyin really has some nerve,ing to I, Old Sun, iming that my time of tribtion had ended. So the so-called end of my tribtion was just to serve as theirckey? If I, Old Sun, refuse, then I''d be suppressed under this mountain forever, isn''t that right?"


    "The old Tathagata might have been able to deceive me, but couldn''t I, Old Sun, also deceive them? Hahaha, a golden body and true fruit? I, Old Sun, am already the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. What do I need that for? Did they think that suppressing me for five hundred years would break my spirit and make me beg pitifully, willing to be a servile dog of the Buddhist Sect?"


    "Delusional!"


    Jiang Liu sat quietly beside Sun Wukong, watching him erupt with pent-up resentment without interrupting, just silently listening.


    However, it seemed like the roles between the two had reversed. Initially, it was Jiang Liu who had talked incessantly while Sun Wukong remained silent. But now, it was Sun Wukong who was constantly speaking while Jiang Liu sat in silence.


    His five hundred years of umted resentment burst forth, and Jiang Liu could clearly sense the hatred in Sun Wukong''s heart.


    With such a mindset, the idea of him leaving the mountain to peacefully escort Jiang Liu to the Western Heaven was utterly impossible.


    Yet, far from being disappointed, Jiang Liu felt even more ted.


    Sitting quietly as his listener, after Sun Wukong''s resentment had been fully vented and he again fell silent, Jiang Liu finally spoke up, "Monkey, are immortals keeping an eye on you all the time?"


    "What you mean is surveince, right? For five hundred years, they''ve watched me for what? Only to send the Local Deity to deliver some iron pills and copper juice every day," the monkey on the ground raised his head and nced at Jiang Liu, speaking dispassionately.


    "Now look around, does any deity or Buddha pay attention to us?" Jiang Liu''s tone became more earnest, speaking softly.


    "Hmm?" Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow inquiringly at Jiang Liu''s attitude.


    He listened carefully and after a thorough inspection, he shook his head, "No one is watching us. What''s it to you? Little Monk, it seems you have some secret to share with I, Old Sun?"


    "You also know about my situation. What do you think will happen to me when I reach Spirit Mountain?" Instead of answering Sun Wukong directly, Jiang Liu leaned against the mountain wall, sitting nearby and asked softly.


    "Hehehe, reach Spirit Mountain, huh? You will die, that girl will die, everyone will die. So I advise you, Little Monk, to obediently go back and remain your Imperial Brother..." With a threatening tone, Sun Wukong grinned and spoke.


    "Indeed, reaching Spirit Mountain would mean my death, and that''s why I must resist for my own sake. Monkey, would youe out and join me in overturning these heavenly deities and Buddhas?" Jiang Liu nodded slightly, turned to face Sun Wukong, and spoke calmly.


    The words were calm, but to Sun Wukong, they were like a p of thunder, leaving him wide-eyed and shocked, staring incredulously at Jiang Liu.


    These words had clearly taken Sun Wukong by surprise.


    After a moment of stunned scrutiny, Sun Wukong shook his head again, "Hehehe, is this your intention? After sitting here for half a month, you''ve finally spoken. Do you think by using this tactic, you can trick me out of the mountain? I am not as gullible as I was five hundred years ago."


    Sun Wukong was questioning his words, but Jiang Liu was not angry.


    Having been deceived by the Tathagata, trapped under a mountain for five hundred years, it was only natural for Sun Wukong to be reluctant to trust anyone easily.


    "If it''s a lie, why note out and see for yourself? If you find that I''m deceiving you, then you''re free to roam the vast world. If you abandon the great endeavor of Scripture Seeking and leave, ying the Buddhist Sect for fools, wouldn''t that be an even greater revenge?"


    These words did indeed sh a considering look across Sun Wukong''s brow. They made sense.


    However, after pondering for a moment, Sun Wukong suddenlyughed again, "Although what you say makes sense, your cultivation level is simply too weak. Just any heavenly soldier could squash you to death. You want to overturn the gods and Buddha, which is brave and decisive, but youck the strength."


    "There''s a saying, ''To be reborn from the ashes, one must first be ced in a desperate situation.'' If you could attain earth-shaking cultivation levels within a few years, why couldn''t I?"


    "Interesting, you little monk, even though you''re not that strong, your temper actually suits I, Old Sun''s taste quite well," said Jiang Liu. Contrarily, this made Sun Wukongugh and find him increasingly pleasant to look at, seeing in him shadows of his own fearless and undaunted past.


    "Let me ask you, going to the Western Heaven, do you have any confidence you''ll overturn those heavenly deities and Buddha?"


    "No."


    "Hahaha, no confidence, and you want me, Old Sun, to apany you to certain death?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, will you join me or not?"


    "I will!"


    ...


    Jiang Liu stood up, and with the aid of a streak of moonlight, he turned and climbed up the Five Elements Mountain, heading towards the Buddha Seal.


    Sun Wukongy on the ground, grinning from ear to ear, looking up at the sky with a defiant glint in his eyes.


    Be apdog of the Tathagata in the Western Heaven? He would never want that, but if it was to overturn the deities and Buddha in the Western Heaven, then that was a different story.


    As for the final oue? At worst, he would die and his cultivation would be destroyed, which was still better than being pressed under the Five Elements Mountain, living and dying over and over, right?


    He had long since climbed the Five Elements Mountain and knew where the Buddha Seal was located. Guided by the moonlight, after walking for half an hour, he arrived at the Buddha Seal.


    Looking at the slightly yellowed Buddha Seal, Jiang Liu reached out and peeled it off.


    It wasn''t difficult at all, almost like peeling off an ordinary piece of paper.


    However, as Jiang Liu peeled off the Buddha Seal, it seemingly sprang to life, slipping from Jiang Liu''s grasp and transforming into a shining golden beam of light, flying towards the west.


    "Master,e down quickly!" With the Buddha Seal removed, Sun Wukong obviously felt it and shouted impatiently.


    With his call, the Five Elements Mountain began to tremble as if caught in an earthquake.


    "So anxious, so impatient, monkeys truly are a hasty bunch," The shaking of the Five Elements Mountain was clearly because Sun Wukong couldn''t wait to flip the mountain and burst forth. Jiang Liu quickly turned around and hurried down the mountain.


    Once he descended the Five Elements Mountain, Jiang Liu ran even faster, heading into the distance, "Wait, you monkey, wait until I''m a bit further away before you start. I am your Master, you must listen to me, just wait a minute."


    Roar!


    The Five Elements Mountain was directly lifted, and a giant ape, a hundred zhang tall, rose from the ground, standing upright while lifting the Five Elements Mountain.


    A rough roar echoed through the three realms and six paths, making heaven and earth tremble.


    I, Old Sun, am back!

 Chapter 89 Cheeky Monkey Lets Go

    "Is this the Divine Skill ''Law of Heaven and Earth''? Incredible!", Jiang Liu marveled inwardly as he watched the giant monkey rising to a height of a hundred zhang.


    With such Supernatural Powers, it was hard to fathom just how powerful this Monkey had be.


    Yet, even such a mighty Monkey was suppressed; it seemed facing the Buddha at Western Spirit Mountain would be much harder than he had imagined.


    Having been oppressed for five hundred years, Sun Wukong was filled with grievances. Naturally, he loathed the Five Elements Mountain deeply. After lifting it, he delivered a punishing punch onto the mountain, causing rocks to scatter and a sound like thunder to follow. As he moved, chunks of mountain shattered and sprayed into the air.


    Bang bang bang!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Punch after punchnded ceaselessly on the Five Elements Mountain as if venting five hundred years of bitterness all at once.


    Within Jiang Liu''s astonished gaze, the entire Five Elements Mountain before Sun Wukong seemed incredibly fragile. In just moments, it turned into countless rocks of various sizes, scattering all around.


    After venting for a while, Sun Wukong felt much better. With a shift in his figure, he retracted his Divine Skill ''Law of Heaven and Earth'' and in the blink of an eye appeared in front of Jiang Liu, looking up at him, "Master, thank you for freeing me. I, Old Sun, am willing to apany you to Western Heaven."


    "Monkey, stop messing around, speak properly¡­", Jiang Liu''s lip twitched slightly.


    "Heh heh heh, what I, Old Sun, said was quite nice, wasn''t it? Don''t you want me, Old Sun, to apany you?", scratching his ears and cheeks, Sun Wukong asked with augh.


    Seeing Sun Wukong''s demeanor, now free and seemingly in high spirits, Jiang Liu did not linger on that topic.


    However, surveying the surroundings littered with rubble, where practically no space was left to even nt one''s foot, he turned and said, "Alright, Cheeky Monkey, let''s go..."


    Walking beside Jiang Liu, the Monkey, originally only about one and a half meters tall and now walking with bent legs, looked even shorter, resembling a child of seven or eight years old.


    "Master, what kind of name is ''Cheeky Monkey''? I always feel like you''re scolding me," Sun Wukong said.


    "No, that''s a misconception," Jiang Liu replied.


    "Then, can it be changed?"


    "Sure, you''ve heard ''a day as your teacher means a lifetime as your father'', right? Call me ''Dad'' then."


    "..."


    Sun Wukong and Jiang Liu, under the moonlight, continued their journey westward while chatting.


    Meanwhile, at Western Spirit Mountain, the Tathagata sat upon the Lotus tform, suddenly sensing something. He lifted his palm, and a golden Buddha Seal fell into his hand.


    "Amitabha, that Monkey hase out," he stowed the Buddha Seal away, and the Tathagata looked far beyond, crossing the constraints of time and space, to see Sun Wukong furiously smashing the Five Elements Mountain, yet he breathed an inward sigh of relief.


    In the Mortal World, night had fallen, but at Western Spirit Mountain, it was still daylight.


    "Amitabha, that''s good...", hearing the Tathagata''s words, Bodhisattva Guanyin underneath his seat, also secretly sighed in relief.


    Being deceived by Sun Wukong made her feel slightly embarrassed, as if she had not done her job well. Fortunately, even though there was a hup, the end result turned out well. Experience tales with empire


    Elsewhere, at the Heavenly Court, the Great Jade Emperor sat quietly, watching several graceful Fairies dance before him, as ethereal as startled swans.


    The Great Jade Emperor, gazing down from his high seat, nodded with a content expression.


    Reaching out his hand, he picked a resplendent grape and popped it into his mouth, nodding slightly.


    "Hmm?" However, at this moment, the Great Jade Emperor''s expression suddenly changed, and shortly after, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "Has that rascal monkeye out?"


    After murmuring quietly to himself, the Great Jade Emperor paid no further attention and continued to watch the fairy''s enchanting dance before him.


    Everything was merely part of the n and not worth fussing over.


    But, seated below, a delicate little boy with a face carved from jade suddenly wore a smile, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.


    ...


    Disregarding what gods and Buddha from all heavens might think about Sun Wukong leaving the Five Elements Mountain, in the mortal world, day had already broken. Liu Boqin from Fork Ridge got up as usual, dressed, and prepared to go hunting.


    But as he stepped out of his house, he suddenly felt as if something was amiss. After walking a few more steps, he abruptly turned around, his face filled with disbelief.


    Mount of the Two Realms!? Gone!?


    Shaken to the core, Liu Boqin hurried towards that area and soon saw the ground littered with rubble, dense and numerous, but Mount of the Two Realms had indeed vanished.


    Stunned like a wooden chicken, what on earth had happened here? The Holy Monk Xuanzang and the monkey that had been suppressed under the mountain were also nowhere to be seen...


    Elsewhere, after half a night''s travel, Jiang Liu sat on a rock, with a pot suspended over a fire, cooking porridge that was fragrant with minced meat, vegetable leaves, and a pinch of salt.


    Tworge bowls for Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong; each seated on one side with a bowl of their own.


    "Hmm, Master, your cooking skills are truly remarkable. I, Old Sun, have tasted many a dragon''s liver and phoenix marrow, exquisite elixirs, but what you cook has a unique vor indeed," without fear of burning his mouth, he took a big gulp, smacking his lips, Sun Wukong praised as he spoke.


    In response to Sun Wukong''s words, Jiang Liu merely smiled and didn''t say much, but with a thought, he asked Sun Wukong, "By the way, monkey, with your vast divine skills and many abilities, do you have any impressive techniques you could teach your master?"


    Indeed, if Sun Wukong had any impressive supernatural powers to teach him, he could simply transcribe them, couldn''t he? It would be a skill book.


    Throw in some skill points, and he''d learn it in no time, right?


    "No, no, I, Old Sun''s techniques were all passed down by Ancestor Bodhi, and they absolutely must not be passed on to others," Sun Wukong said, shaking his head vigorously as if it were a rattle-drum at Jiang Liu''s words.


    "This Ancestor Bodhi is really too stingy," Jiang Liu muttered under his breath with some disappointment upon hearing Sun Wukong''s reply.


    ng! Sun Wukong''s bowl slipped from his hands and shattered upon hitting the ground.


    "You, how do you know about Ancestor Bodhi?" Sun Wukong''s eyes widened with astonishment as he looked at Jiang Liu.


    When he hadpleted his learning and left Square Inch Mountain, Ancestor Bodhi had told him that no matter what kind of major trouble he caused, he should never reveal his name. Therefore, Sun Wukong had never told anyone about the existence of Ancestor Bodhi, not even the Great Jade Emperor or the Tathagata had knowledge of this. How could he know?


    "Eh? Didn''t you mention him during our conversation about your experiencesst night?" Jiang Liu replied with a question.


    "Me? Did I mention itst night?" Confused, Sun Wukong racked his memories. Although he had talked about his life experiencesst night, he''d mentioned only that he left Flower Fruit Mountain, found a celebrated teacher, and acquired earth-shattering divine skills within a few years, but he hadn''t said a word about the name of Ancestor Bodhi, had he?


    "Alright, alright, these are just trivial details, not worth fussing over," Jiang Liu waved his hand, aware that he had misspoken. He then opened his storage space and, with a raise of his palm, pushed another bowl into Sun Wukong''s hands.


    Observing Jiang Liu''s techniques, Sun Wukong''s eyes flickered subtly.


    "This monk, although his cultivation level is low, seems quite extraordinary. Was that just now the Sleeve Universe divine skill?"

 Chapter 90 Job Change Quest

    "Hehehe, what a pale and tender little monk..." On his journey westward, about half a day had passed when suddenly, a splendid fierce tiger leapt out, its eyes greedily fixed on Jiang Liu, drool dripping onto the ground as it spoke human words.


    "A talking demon? So, it''s a monster below level 20?" Seeing the tiger demon blocking the way, Jiang Liu thought to himself, assessing the strength of the tiger demon.


    His own level had been 19 for some days now; even without the boost of skills and equipment, he was not weaker than this fierce tiger unarmed.


    For Jiang Liu, this tiger demon that had jumped out was simply delivering experience points.


    "Hehehe, nice demon. I, Old Sun, just happen to need a tiger skin skirt," said Sun Wukong, who had not fought with anyone for five hundred years and was now itching to fight. Although this lowly little demon was nothing significant, Sun Wukong didn''t mind taking action since it dared to block his path.


    "Hmph, a skinny monkey with hardly any meat on him," the tiger demon sneered disinterestedly at Sun Wukong''sment.


    Comparatively, the tiger felt that Jiang Liu, this pale and tender human, would taste much better.


    "Stupid demon, not knowing life from death!" Hearing the tiger demon''s words, Sun Wukong reached into his ear, and the Ruyi Golden Cudgel grew with the wind. He raised his cudgel to strike.


    "Wukong, wait!" Just as Sun Wukong had taken out his Golden Hoop, Jiang Liu hastily spoke up, stopping him.


    A demon of a tiger demon''s caliber also meant experience points. It would be wasteful if Sun Wukong killed it, turning it into a stolen kill, right?


    If the level difference exceeded 10, they couldn''t form a team, and experience points would be distributed based on contribution, leaving him with nothing.


    "What''s the matter, Master?" Sun Wukong asked, puzzled as he kept the cudgel hovering mid-air.


    "Step back, let me handle this," said Jiang Liu as he took out his Demon-Subduing Staff and applied a Demon-Subduing Mantra and Arhat Fist BUFF on himself, feeling as though power surged through his body.


    Fearing that Sun Wukong would snatch the kill, Jiang Liu raised his hand andunched a ball of intense mes, the Swift Fire Bead.


    With a loud bang and an explosion, the fireball hit the tiger demon, sending it flying with a scream.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, he could clearly see the health bar over the tiger demon''s head instantly drop by a significant amount.


    The double damage special effect of the Redwood Ring, the Swift Fire Bead of the Great Perfection Realm, plus the added buff from the Arhat Fist and Demon-Subduing Mantra, nearly killed the tiger demon in one hit.


    After sting the tiger demon away, Jiang Liu sprang forward, chasing after it with his Demon-Subduing Staff raised high, smashing down hard.


    Already severely injured by the attack of the Swift Fire Bead, the terrified tiger demon, barely daring to confront Jiang Liu, tried to flee dragging its grievous wounds.


    However, the wounded beast couldn''t run fast, and Jiang Liu quickly caught up, finishing the tiger demon off with a few swift strikes of his staff.


    Notification: Gained 880 Experience Points, acquired 200 in gold.


    Notification: Level up by 1, current level 20.


    Notification: Unlocked Mission System feature, silently think "Mission List" to open.


    Notification: Requisite level achieved, profession change mission avable, please check by yourself.


    With the death of the tiger demon, suddenly, a series of system notifications emerged one after another, bringing continual surprises for Jiang Liu.


    Indeed, when he had reached level 10, he had unlocked the feature to expand his storage space, and now at level 20, he had unlocked new features.


    The functionality of the Mission System was a pleasant surprise for Jiang Liu, as missions meant rewards, whether in the form of experience points or equipment and items, allowing him to elerate his growth, which was, of course, great news.


    Reaching level 20 and meeting the conditions for changing profession was a source of tion for Jiang Liu. Still, the necessary profession change mission sparked his curiosity.


    He silently chanted "Mission List" in his heart, and indeed, the mission list opened.


    However, there was only a lone job transfer mission in the list.


    Job Transfer Mission (1/3): Single-handedly ughter 100 monsters above level 10 to prove one''s ability to transition to a more powerful profession, current number of monsters in 0/100.


    Find exclusive stories on empire


    "So, is this job transfer mission a series of three connected tasks?" Jiang Liu wondered as he looked at the mission description in the list.


    Monsters above level 10? That would mean dealing with demons, wouldn''t it? It''s not easy to kill monsters of that caliber.


    The main problem is finding 100 demons; that can''t be an easy task, can it? Is the first transfer task this difficult?


    "Master, it looks like you enjoy fighting even more than I, Old Sun," Sun Wukong said, gripping the golden hoop in his hand, watching as Jiang Liu swiftly killed a tiger demon with a few quick moves, his hair disheveled by the wind.


    "Not bad, but these minor demons and creatures, you, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, personally taking action, don''t you find it shameful? Wait till we encounter a powerful demon, then it wouldn''t be toote for you to strike," Jiang Liuplimented Sun Wukong upon hearing his words.


    Meanwhile, he opened his inventory space; indeed, it was just a demon, perhaps even lower in level than himself. Besides money, not even a single potion had dropped.


    Having possessed the game system for so long, Jiang Liu had deduced a rule: the higher the level of the monsters he killedpared to his own, the greater the drop rate and the higher the likelihood of scoring good items.


    "Hehehe, Master, even if you praise me like this, I, Old Sun, won''t be pleased," Sun Wukong said with a full-face grin, his happiness causing his tail to wiggle, but his mouth refused to admit it.


    Seeing Sun Wukong''s demeanor, Jiang Liu smiled knowingly.


    Sun Wukong''s vanity is quite strong, as known from his frequent self-promations in the original story that he is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who had once caused Havoc in Heaven, and just the mention of his time as the Stable Attendant can infuriate him.


    So, heaping praise andpliments seemed a good way to get along with him.


    Others may stroke a cat, but why not stroke a monkey?


    It seems there''s nothing wrong with it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Alright, it''s gettingte. Let''s have fried tiger meat tonight," Jiang Liu observed the sky and spoke without urgency to move on.


    "Oh yes, oh yes," Sun Wukong eagerly nodded upon hearing there was food.


    Jiang Liu''s cooking had long since won him over.


    Meanwhile, Sun Wukong volunteered to strip off the tiger''s skin and clean out the insides of therge tiger.


    The remaining tiger meat was all stored in the inventory space, and seeing Sun Wukong fold the tiger skin, Jiang Liu knew what he intended to do.


    However, as he set up an iron pot and began frying the tiger meat, Jiang Liu turned his head, "Monkey, did you just say you were nning to make yourself a tiger skin skirt?"


    "Yes, I, Old Sun, am still bare-bodied," Sun Wukong nodded and replied.


    "Well, Wukong, I have an immature question, I''m not sure if I should ask," Jiang Liu hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    "Master, just ask."


    "Wukong, you''re a male monkey, right? Why do you like wearing skirts?"


    "I didn''t expect you to be that kind of monkey."

 Chapter 91 Demon Horde

    "Monkey, stop!" Jiang Liu yelled, halting Sun Wukong before charging forward with his Demon Subduing Staff.


    With a single strike, a Tiger Demon copsed to the ground with a pained scream.


    Notification: Gained 260 Experience Points, 30 coins.


    Notification: Current questpletion 9/100.


    "It''s only been five days since I epted the ss change quest, and I''ve already encountered numerous Demon Creatures. It seems that outside the borders of Great Tang, there are noticeably more demons," Jiang Liu murmured to himself after ying another Tiger Demon.


    Thinking carefully, perhaps it was indeed because there were more Demon Creatures outside of Great Tang.


    However, there was another possibility that the Imperial Court of Great Tang had suppressed the Demon Kings in all directions, forcing those demons not to harm the Mortal World, making them seem fewer.


    Of course, for Jiang Liu, the increase in Demon Creatures wasn''t bad news; there were more targets to fight, which meant more Experience Points to gain. This was a good thing.


    However, whether it was just his imagination, these past few days, Jiang Liu noticed that most of the Demon Creatures he encountered were tigers.


    "Master, I have a question, though I''m not sure if I should ask it," Sun Wukong said, leaning on his Golden Hoop staff.


    "What is it?" Jiang Liu replied, after checking his inventory space, still without any special drops. He turned to look at Sun Wukong.


    "I feel like along this road, it isn''t me protecting you, but rather it seems like you are protecting me."


    Although these days, being constantly ttered by Jiang Liu had beenforting, since he came out of the Five Elements Mountain, Sun Wukong had not had a proper fight, making him restless.


    Each time they encountered a Demon, his master would stop him from fighting, which left Sun Wukong feeling incredibly frustrated.


    "On our journey to the Western Heaven, which spans eighty-one thousand miles, there will be countless powerful demons along the way. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to shine," Jiang Liu said, patting the small, thin monkey on the shoulder with a fatherly, earnest attitude.


    The master and disciple continued their journey to the West, but shortly after, they spotted a small vige in the distance, home to roughly twenty or thirty households.


    Jiang Liu spoke up, "Alright, there''s a vige ahead. We should stock up on some rice, flour, and condiments, and maybe borrow some needles and thread to sew up your tiger skin skirt."


    "Master, I told you, I want tiger skin shorts, not a skirt," Sun Wukong argued, walking alongside Jiang Liu.


    "No, you want it."


    ¡­


    Setting aside how Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong bickered, they soon arrived at the entrance of the vige.


    Yet, standing there, Jiang Liu''s brow furrowed slightly.


    "What''s wrong?" Sun Wukong asked, noticing that Jiang Liu was not moving and had no intention of walking in.


    "Wukong, don''t you think there''s something off about this vige?" Jiang Liu''s expression grew more solemn.


    Jiang Liu and Gaoyang had once secluded themselves in the vige for two months. Familiar with the vige life, it was precisely because of this familiarity that Jiang Liu felt something was amiss with this vige.


    "Amiss?", upon hearing this, Sun Wukong looked toward the center of the vige, a golden light shing in his eyes. After scanning the area, Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "There are no demon creatures in this vige, nothing seems amiss."


    "Don''t you think it''s a bit too quiet? It''s one thing tock the sounds of children, but there''s not even the crowing of chickens or barking of dogs," Jiang Liu shook his head and said, walking deeper into the vige.


    Indeed, the vige was inplete disarray, as if it had gone through a fierce battle. Traces of blood could still be seen on the ground, but not a single person was present, not even cattle, sheep, chickens, or dogs.


    "This vige has been attacked by demons," Sun Wukong observed the devastated state of the vige and his expression grew much more serious.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Indeed, if it were bandits, they wouldn''t cart away the corpses. It must have been a demon attack," Jiang Liu nodded, feeling a chill in his heart.


    In this deste world, demon creatures roamed, and although there were cultivators among humanity to counter them, for ordinary people, it was a world where life was as frail as grass, often subjected to demon attacks, leaving no survivors in a vige.


    "Wukong, check if there are any survivors," Jiang Liu said, though he felt the possibility of finding any survivors was slim. Nheless, he decided to search.


    "Understood, Master," Sun Wukong nodded. He wasn''t going to wander idly like ordinary people in search; instead, he listened intently, using his divine skills.


    Soon, Sun Wukong spoke, "Master, there are still people alive."


    In the midst of speaking, the monkey leapt forward, and Jiang Liu quickly followed, soon arriving at a well. The monkey pulled an elderly man in his sixties or seventies out of the well.


    Looking at the old man, who was barely alive and close to death, soaking wet, Jiang Liu could see that his health bar had only a sliver of health left.


    Raising his palm, he activated the Guanyin Mantra skill, and a green glow slowly entered the old man''s body, restoring a portion of his health bar.


    Gradually, the old man came to his senses and upon seeing Sun Wukong, he cried out in horror, "Ah, demon, demon!"


    "There there, old man, don''t be afraid. This monkey is my disciple, we are not demons," Jiang Liu stepped forward and softly spoke.


    With Sun Wukong''s fearsome appearance and his thunderous mouth, it was indeed scary, but seeing Jiang Liu''s clean and polite demeanor, the old man calmed down considerably. He then looked around at the tragic scene in the vige and burst into tears.


    "Old man, don''t rush to cry. Let me ask you, what kind of demon did you encounter here?" Jiang Liu said, trying tofort him.


    "Indeed, our Xiaotian Vige has always been peaceful, a paradise all its own. Butst night, a horde of demons attacked our vige, and these demons, they eat people. I thought, even if I died I wouldn''t let these demons get the better of me, so I jumped into the well. I never expected to survive," the old man narrated tearfully the ordeal the vige had faced.


    "A horde of demons?", upon hearing this, Jiang Liu''s eyes flickered.


    Not to mention these demons'' ferocity, aside from dispatching these demons as a service to the people, even if it were just to level up from killing monsters andplete his ss transfer mission, Jiang Liu couldn''t just stand by anymore.


    "Don''t worry old man, seeing how there is not a single person left in the vige, it''s possible the vigers weren''t all killed, but were taken by the demons. My disciple and I possess some means for subduing demons and eliminating evil. Shall we go and see if we can rescue the vigers?" Jiang Liu said after a moment''s thought, trying to offer some constion.


    "Really!?", Jiang Liu''s words, like a thread of hope in utter despair, brightened the old man''s eyes. He immediately began to bow continuously towards Jiang Liu, "Thank you, Mage, thank you, Mage."


    Alert: Mission "Exterminate Demon Horde" triggered. Mission requirement: Exterminate the demon horde that attacked Xiaotian Vige. Mission sess: Reward 12,000 Experience Points, Green Lotus Staff. Failure punishment: None.

 Chapter 92 Meeting an Old...... Foe in a Foreign Land?

    A quest had been triggered, which left Jiang Liu with a sense of inner puzzlement.


    Although his level had climbed to 20, and he had unlocked the quest function, the triggering of quests seemed quite ordinary. However, what were the conditions needed to trigger this quest function?


    Was it just triggered passively when he encountered certain events, or were there specific conditions required?


    Having obtained the game system for quite some time, there were things Jiang Liu had to figure out by himself, like looting equipment. Without opening the inventory space, the looted items would be under the corpse, and he had to search for them himself.


    For instance, forming teams¡ªJiang Liu figured out that he couldn''t team up with yers more than 10 levels higher than himself.


    However, this was just the first time a quest had been triggered. He made a mental note of it, intending to look for patterns once he triggered some more quests in the future.


    Moreover, this quest indicated that there were no penalties for failure.


    So, did that mean there might be quests with penalties for failure in the future?


    Overall, carrying a game system into the world of Journey to the West was his Golden Finger, but Jiang Liu felt that this system was even more challenging than ying the games themselves.


    Not to mention the trigger of quests. He didn''t understand the conditions at all and had to figure them out by himself.


    If this were in a game, NPCs would have a big exmation mark over their heads, clearly shouting that there was a quest avable here.


    Shaking his head, Jiang Liu cleared the clutter in his mind. He and Sun Wukong had already left the small vige.


    Immediately, Jiang Liu spoke, "Wukong, that elder we just met mentioned being attacked by a group of demons. It seems there might be an organized group of demons nearby. Shall we investigate the situation first?"


    "Master, why all the trouble..." Impatiently, Sun Wukong had already drawn his Jingu Bang.


    Clearly, having left Five Elements Mountain itching for action, Sun Wukong had eliminated every single weak demon he encountered. Now, upon hearing of a group of demons, he was more eager than ever.


    With a thrust of the Jingu Bang on the ground, the monkey softly eximed, "Local Deity, where are you?"


    Following Sun Wukong''s action, an elderly slim man, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, emerged from the ground, evidently the local deity.


    After getting up, the man paid respects to both Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong, "The local deity greets the Holy Monk and the Great Saint, may I know why the Great Saint has summoned this humble god?"


    "Local Deity, I, Old Sun, am asking you if there are any demons nearby? This vige next to us was ughtered by demons. Are you aware of this matter?" Though Sun Wukong was thin and not very tall, his presence waspletely unmatched by the nodding and bowing local deity.


    "To report to the Great Saint, this Xiaotian Vige nearby originally had no powerful demons. However, a few months ago, a Tiger Demon arrived, bringing a group of little demons and imed the throne at Returning Wind Mountain thirty miles away. That Tiger Demon possesses a formidable cultivation level," the local deity exined, describing the most powerful demon nearby.


    "Hehehe, a formidable cultivation level, you say? Even better, I, Old Sun, am itching to fight now," upon hearing the local deity''s words, Sun Wukong was even more pleased.


    "By the way, Local Deity, how is that demon addressed?" At this moment, Jiang Liu also spoke up, his eyes slightly gleaming.


    Powerful demons were beyond his capabilities, but weren''t those lesser demons just the Experience Points he needed?


    The most important thing is, should I be able toplete my ss change quest now?


    Seeing Sun Wukong''s belligerent demeanor did not surprise the Local Deity, but seeing Jiang Liu''s eyes also shining, the Local Deity was slightly taken aback, yet dared not ask more questions, "Reporting to the Holy Monk, the Tiger Demon on Returning Wind Mountain is named Blood Tiger King."


    "Blood Tiger King?" The name made Jiang Liu falter slightly, having naturally heard of this title before.


    That day at Foutu Mountain, Blood Tiger King was defeated and fled, so he had escaped out of the Border of Great Tang?


    That day, I almost died at his hands, it was because of him that the news of my Flesh of Longevity spread, leading to theter situation where three demons attacked me.


    "Alright, Local Deity, you may leave," Sun Wukong looked up after rifying the situation, his gaze turning towards Jiang Liu, "Master, we now know the whereabouts of those demons, shall we go? It''s just a group of Little Demons, nothing to worry about. You rest well, I, Old Sun, can handle it alone..."


    "No, Wukong, let me handle this. Stay by my side and support me!" Hearing Sun Wukong''s words, Jiang Liu interrupted him.


    Hearing that Sun Wukong might go alone to exterminate those demons, Jiang Liu quickly spoke, joking right? Since I was worrying about the ss change quest, isn''t the group of demons at Returning Wind Mountain just like a pillow for a sleepy head?


    Blood Tiger King, naturally, would be left to Sun Wukong, but those Little Demons, they are all my Experience Points.


    "Master, you..." Hearing Jiang Liu''s words, and being forbidden to act, Sun Wukong became anxious.


    "Wukong, your master has an immature perplexity, I''m not sure whether I should ask or not?" Seeing Sun Wukong appearing very impatient, almost exploding, Jiang Liu began to speak earnestly and cautiously.


    "Master, you, ask..." Sun Wukong hesitated slightly, casting a somewhat doubtful look at Jiang Liu, feeling that what he was about to say wouldn''t be pleasant.


    "You monkey, are you the type that bullies the weak but fears the strong?"


    Jiang Liu, counting on his fingers, said, "You always talk about how during your Havoc in Heaven you were so powerful that even a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers couldn''t capture you. However, after all, those were just Heavenly Soldiers. I''ve never heard you say that you defeated any truly powerful Deity. What about Eng God? Have you defeated him? Supreme Elder Lord?


    Tathagata?"


    At this point, Jiang Liu paused slightly, then continued, "I originally thought you, this monkey, were incredibly powerful, thinking of leaving the Blood Tiger King on Returning Wind Mountain to you, but you always think about dealing with those Little Demons..."


    Squeak squeak squeak!


    With these words from Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong was left speechless, screeching angrily, "Master, you don''t understand. The Samadhi True Fire of the Supreme Elder Lord is extremely powerful, and what about Eng God? I, Old Sun, am not afraid of him, but he has a dog on a leash, as for old Tathagata..."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Stop exining, exining is disguising, disguising is the truth, so, you say during your Havoc in Heaven you defeated just some minor gods, can''t you defeat any truly powerful ones?" Jiang Liu, looking disdainful, interrupted Sun Wukong''s exnation.


    "Fine, I won''t touch those Little Demons, I''ll leave them all to you, but you have to leave that Blood Tiger King to me, I, Old Sun, will show you what I can do!" Being cornered by Jiang Liu and unable to speak, Sun Wukong finally said vehemently.


    "This monkey, we can''t spoil him too much. Praises need to be said, but at crucial times, he also needs to be suppressed."


    Seeing that his simple provocation worked extremely well, Jiang Liu chuckled inwardly.


    Chatting and talking, soon, the outline of Returning Wind Mountain appeared before Jiang Liu''s eyes.

 Chapter 93 The Surprised Blood Tiger King

    Dragon Following Cloud, Tiger Following the Wind.


    Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong arrived at the base of Returning Wind Mountain, looking at the stretching mountain range before them, with a biting cold wind. Indeed, it was very suitable for the Tiger n''s survival.


    However, they had barely reached the foot of the mountain when two huge tigers leapt out together. Without uttering a word, they pounced towards Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong.


    The Demon Subduing Staff came crashing down, instantly emptying the health bar, and at the same time, he lifted his hand and fired a Swift Fire Bead. It exploded on the other tiger''s head with a scream, simrly clearing its health bar.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Instant kill.


    "Can''t even talk, not even level 10 Tiger Demons?", effortlessly killing the two big tigers only amounted to a total of 150 Experience Points. Jiang Liu secretly shook his head.


    Though mosquitoes are small, they are still flesh, but with his current level, killing these level 10 or lower demons, the Experience Points were really as insignificant as mosquito legs.


    "Wukong, let''s not move too quickly. Let''s aim to clear all the demon creatures on Returning Wind Mountain," Jiang Liu suggested to Sun Wukong after they defeated the two jumping Tiger Demons.


    "Master, mere Little Demons, not worth mentioning. Let''s just storm the demon''s den directly and kill the Blood Tiger King. Those little demons will naturally scatter and flee, not worth our concern," Sun Wukong countered Jiang Liu''s suggestion with a different opinion.


    Despite being baited by Jiang Liu not to attack these little demons, the impatient Sun Wukong was eager to take on the Blood Tiger King.


    Besides, isn''t capturing the leader the most straightforward strategy?


    "Wukong, think about it. These demons kill and harm people. If they all scatter, won''t themon folk suffer? If so, wouldn''t our effort toe here and exorcise demons be wasted? Could it be that you are exorcising demons just for the sake of fighting?" Jiang Liu said to Sun Wukong with apassionate demeanor.


    "No, no, I, Old Sun, was just thinking it''s too slow, not at all what you''re thinking," although his true intentions were revealed by Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong, naturally, would not admit it. He stubbornly argued.


    "Hmm, I also think that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, couldn''t possibly be so selfish, surely he''s someone of great empathy and righteousness," Jiang Liu nodded and continued, ttering Sun Wukong once more.


    Some people stroke cats with their hands, smoothing in the direction of the fur; Jiang Liu strokes Sun Wukong with ttering words, a tactic that was highly effective.


    Tip: gained 38 Experience Points, 11 gold.


    Tip: gained 152 Experience Points, 15 gold, ss change mission progress 12/100.


    Tip: gained 440 Experience Points, 28 gold, ss change mission progress 72/100.


    ...


    Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong carefully made their way up Returning Wind Mountain, strategically enticing the demons one by one, and Jiang Liu''s harvest of Experience Points was ever increasing; naturally, thepletion of the ss change mission was also steadily progressing, drawing closer to the mission of a hundred demons.


    With the Jingu Bang on his shoulder, Sun Wukong followed Jiang Liu. Although he felt that this method of luring the demons one by one was a waste of time, he did not interfere.


    This quiet battlested until deep into the night without end.


    As for this stealthy method ofbat, Sun Wukong did not approve. Since it was a battle, one should exhibit one''s prowess, he thought. What''s the skill in fighting covertly?


    However, the demon creatures on Returning Wind Mountain were no fools. Since a hundred or more demons had already been stealthily assassinated by Jiang Liu, their decreased numbers made the remaining demons grow suspicious.


    Soon, numerous demon corpses were discovered, and this news was naturally reported immediately to the Blood Tiger King.


    "Good grief!"


    At that moment, the Blood Tiger King, looking like a robust man in his forties or fifties, heard that not a few demons in the mountains had perished. This was like plucking hairs from a tiger''s mouth! While he was drinking, he stood up abruptly and threw his cup: "Men, show some action for your king. Dive out the rats lurking in the dark. I want to see who dares toy a hand on us!"


    Woo woo woo!


    Following themand of the Blood Tiger King, a chorus of horns rang out across Returning Wind Mountain, instantly enlivening the quiet night.


    In a sh, demonic winds surged, and the wails of ghosts and howls of gods were incessant.


    Notification: Gained Experience Points 520, money 50, 98/100 questpletion for job change.


    After killing another demon creature, Jiang Liu also heard the sound of the horns and looked up, his expression growing much more solemn.


    "Heh heh heh, the demons on this mountain are really stupid to have finally noticed now," unlike Jiang Liu''s solemn expression, Sun Wukong grinned wildly, eager to try, even feeling a surge of tears from extreme joy.


    After leaping out from the Five Elements Mountain, having held it in for so many days, I, Old Sun, finally had the chance to take action.


    "Good, although the first part of the job change quest has not beenpleted, it is almost there," Jiang Liu checked the progress on the Mission List and quietly nodded to himself.


    Having ughtered so many demons and many more demon creatures, adding everything together, he had almost gained 20000 Experience Points, which was quite a satisfactory harvest.


    As nearly all the demons on Returning Wind Mountain began to move, conducting a carpet-style search, it wasn''t long before some demon creature discovered Jiang Liu''s presence.


    A bird stopped on a nearby treetop, spoke in human tongue, and screamed loudly, "Found them, found the intruder."


    Swift Fire Bead!


    As the bird cried out in mid-air, Jiang Liu raised his hand, a fireball pushed out following his gestures, exploding directly on the bird.


    Amidst its scream, the passive effect of the Redwood Ring triggered, and the bird plummeted from mid-air, its health bar emptied.


    Notification: Gained Experience Points 100, money 12, questpletion 99/100.


    Notification: The durability of your Bodhi Ring is exhausted, and it has been destroyed.


    As this demon creature was instant killed, suddenly another system notification appeared.


    Almost simultaneously, a pristine white ring on Jiang Liu''s finger suddenly cracked, shattering into several pieces and falling to the ground.


    "Ah, when this ring exploded into existence, it only had 1 point of durability; after battling with me for so long, it finally ran out, huh?" Looking at the shattered ring on his finger, Jiang Liu let out a silent sigh.


    It had been over two months since he traveled west from Chang''an City, and he had engaged in numerous battles, with the durability of his equipment on his body decreasing somewhat.


    Never mind Jiang Liu''s private reflection, as the demon''s loud cry was followed by the swift killing with a Swift Fire Bead, evil spirits appeared in the dark night. In just a moment, hundreds of demon creatures appeared and surrounded Jiang Liu in their midst.


    Leading them was the Blood Tiger King, who had reverted to looking much younger.


    Compared to the battle at Foutu Mountain, the Blood Tiger King now appeared in human form, walking out looking vigorous and energetic, his gaze naturally locking onto Jiang Liu.


    Seeing Jiang Liu, the Blood Tiger King was first surprised, then immediately overjoyed.


    "Hahaha, Holy Monk Xuanzang, I didn''t expect that we could meet outside of the Great Tang, what a fate, and even greater fortune for me!"


    The Blood Tiger King, both surprised and delighted,ughed out loud.


    Although he had been angry upon hearing that hundreds of demon creatures had been killed, he now felt as if he had been hit by a pie falling from the sky.

 Chapter 94 Exteriorization of the Body

    "Master, you and this Blood Tiger King were old acquaintances..." Sun Wukong said, heart filled with immense disappointment upon hearing Blood Tiger King''s words.


    After holding back for so long, and finally waiting for this so-called Blood Tiger King to appear, he thought he would have a good fight. But seeing how happily Blood Tiger King greeted Jiang Liu, were they really old acquaintances?


    "Wukong, do you think he and I are friends?" Jiang Liu turned his head to look at him and asked.


    "Isn''t he?" Sun Wukong, looking up at Jiang Liu, felt surprised.


    If they were not friends, why would the Blood Tiger King recognize him at a nce? And why did he greet him so happily?


    "Monkey, a brain is a good thing, I wish you had one," Jiang Liu muttered under his breath, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.


    From Sun Wukong''s perspective, his considerations seemed wless, but from Jiang Liu''s perspective, having long heard of the Blood Tiger King''s reputation, yet stilling to Returning Wind Mountain to Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil, and even killing hundreds of demon creatures.


    Would he do this if they were truly friends?


    Perhaps Sun Wukong was not dumb, but he tended to be too straightforward and not meticulous enough when thinking through problems.


    "Holy Monk, I did not expect you to actually bring a pet with you when you go out, quite the mood..." Blood Tiger King, hearing Sun Wukong talk, was surprised that he was also a demon but not transforming into human form, didn''t take it seriously instead joked.


    "Pet!?" Although thinking of Blood Tiger King as Jiang Liu''s friend, Sun Wukong had not reacted, but hearing himself being described as a pet, he could imagine how unpleasant he felt.


    "Master, this guy is really annoying, can I kill him?" Sun Wukong, his eyes burning with anger, turned his head to look at Jiang Liu and asked.


    "You can."


    "Really!?" Sun Wukong was momentarily stunned by Jiang Liu''s decisive answer.


    "It''s true!" Jiang Liu nodded affirmatively, raising his hand andunching a Swift Fire Bead that hurtled directly towards Blood Tiger King.


    At the same time, Demon-Subduing Buff was cast on Sun Wukong.


    Although Sun Wukong''s level was too high for a team effect, if they really killed Blood Tiger King, Experience Points would still be allocated based on Contribution Points, and good items might drop, Jiang Liu naturally wanted to maximize his contribution.


    Facing the iing fireball, Blood Tiger King casually swatted it away, then in a leap came before Jiang Liu, reaching out his hand to grab him.


    This was truly a fortuitous circumstance served on a tter; just eating a little bit of his flesh had extended his life by five hundred years, what if he could eat himpletely...


    "Squeak, squeak, squeak..." However, seeing Jiang Liu retaliate, and Tiger King counterattacking, Sun Wukong on the side was actually delightfully squeaking.


    He finally understood that although his master recognized this Tiger Demon, it seemed they were actually enemies, which was truly great.


    Blood Tiger King''s palm inevitably targeted Jiang Liu, but just as it was about tond on Jiang Liu, suddenly an iron rod blocked Blood Tiger King''s way.


    The hand fell on the iron rod and did not affect it in the least.


    "What? This monkey doesn''t look remarkable, but what great strength!" Blood Tiger King, unable to budge the iron rod, looked down at the short and thin monkey, disbelieving.


    Size-wise, Sun Wukong only reached up to his waist.


    "Hehehe,e practice with I, Old Sun," Sun Wukong effortlessly blocked Blood Tiger King''s attack, applied a slight force on his Jingu Bang, and flung it.


    An indescribable strength surged, and Blood Tiger King felt the world spinning around him. By the time he regained his senses, he had been thrown dozens of meters away by Jingu Bang,nding heavily on the ground.


    Having waited so long to find a target, Sun Wukong had been holding back, and now he finally had the chance to make use of his strength, picking up Jingu Bang without rushing to finish the fight, swinging left and right, handling Blood Tiger King like a bouncing ball.


    "Little ones, capture Xuanzang!" After three moves and two styles, the Blood Tiger King realized that this unimpressive monkey was much stronger than himself. Lacking the courage for another battle, he shouted loudly, wanting to capture Jiang Liu and escape first.


    Upon the Blood Tiger King''smand, demon creatures by his side made their move, reaching out to grab Jiang Liu.


    Below the Demon King, there indeed existed many Demon Generals and even some at the Demon Marshal level.


    "Humph, think you can outnumber me?" However, watching several Demon Generals rushing towards Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong let out a coldugh and then plucked a strand of his hair from the back of his head and gently blew on it.


    The strand of hair, as he blew it out, swiftly transformed into Sun Wukong''s appearance in mid-air. A dozen avatars protected Jiang Liu, swinging their iron rods, and no demon creature could get close to Jiang Liu.


    "Impressive!" This was Sun Wukong''s first battle since he left the Five Elements Mountain. Although it was already clear that Sun Wukong''s power was terrifying, seeing with his own eyes that a mighty Demon King was merely a ything in his hands, along with this strand of hair that could transform into avatars, Jiang Liu inwardly praised.


    The Demon Marshals were already capable of taking on human forms, with beastly heads and human bodies.


    Yet, Jiang Liu could see with his own eyes that even Demon Marshal-level demon creatures charging at them were swept away by Sun Wukong''s avatars with a single strike.


    Clearly, even though they were just avatars, they had the power topletely crush the Demon Marshals.


    It was aplete thrashing. After Sun Wukong made his move, the situation became a one-sided beatdown, with no surprises. A dozen avatars protected Jiang Liu, with no demon able to approach.


    In Jiang Liu''s eyes, Sun Wukong''s true body treated the Tiger King as a mere toy, clearly seeing his health bar continuously dropping.


    Above the level of Demon Generals, he was no match, but those little demons were all his experience points, right? Jiang Liu raised his Demon-Subduing Staff and prepared to rush over, as he was just one creature short ofpleting his ss change mission.


    However, Sun Wukong''s avatars tightly followed by Jiang Liu''s side, not allowing a single demon creature within his vicinity, making it impossible for him to fight.


    "Hehehe, master, there are too many demons here. You just stay put, old man, leave them all to I, Old Sun," said the avatar beside him with a chuckle to Jiang Liu.


    "Are you sure this isn''t some kind of revenge?" Sun Wukong''s words caused Jiang Liu''s lips to twitch slightly.


    He had been repressing him, not allowing him to act all the way, and it must have been unbearable, so now that he got the chance, he wouldn''t let him act either?


    This monkey''s mind was indeed smaller than he had thought.


    Guanyin Mantra, Swift Fire Bead, Vajra Mantra...


    Since he couldn''t strike at these little demons, his thoughts temporarily shifted towards the Blood Tiger King.


    Regardless of the efficacy of his skills, in an effort to increase his contribution points, Jiang Liu really went all out. He threw every usable skill and buff onto Sun Wukong, while the Swift Fire Bead, an offensive ranged weapon, kept smashing towards the Blood Tiger King.


    It was supposed to be an easy kill, but Sun Wukong yed with the tiger like a ball for half an hour before finally killing the Blood Tiger King.


    As it died, the body of the Blood Tiger King also reverted back to its original form: a giant tiger with blood-red, mottled fur.


    Notification: Gained 4200 Experience Points, Obtained 5 taels of money.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jiang Liu''s eyes brightened as he looked at the corpse of the Blood Tiger King and walked straight over.


    Although he wasn''t in a team, he still had contribution points, thus he also gained experience points, and there might also be good items dropped; it''s just that the dropped items wouldn''t be automatically picked up and were under the body.


    What good items could a Demon King-level monster drop?


    (PS: Thanks to the book friend "Zhang Zhang Zhang Guifeng" for the generous reward of 100000 starting coins, bing the first chief of this book. As for additional chapters? If it is the day of going on shelves, I will explode a bit, so now I need to save drafts in preparation for going on shelves. As for the chief''s additional chapters?


    After the explosion on the shelves is over, I can take the time to save drafts, perhaps explode with ten or eight chapters as a return, so for now, the additional chapters from the chief are owed...)

 Chapter 95 So Thats What You Are Like, Master

    "Wukong, step back, let your teacher handle this!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With a loud shout, Jiang Liu immediately conjured a huge fireball in his hands and hurled it at arge tiger not far away.


    The demon, which had only about a quarter of its health bar remaining, was struck by Jiang Liu''s Swift Fire Bead, let out a scream, and its health bar was instantly emptied.


    Notification: Gained experience points 220, money 20, profession change missionpletion 100/100.


    Notification: There is a new update to your mission. Please check the mission list.


    Sun Wukong plucked a hair, transformed it into a dozen exterior selves, and swept through with his Jingu Bang like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. Who among the demons on Returning Wind Mountain could stand against him?


    Wherever the Jingu Bang swept, it truly meant instant death on contact, injury on a mere brush. In moments, the hundreds of demonsy scattered dead.


    Jiang Liu watched with distress¡ªif all these demons had died by his hand, that would have been tens of thousands of experience points.


    Unfortunately, these demons, including demon generals and demon marshals among them, were overwhelming and he could not have taken them on alone.


    Fortunately, he had just turned over the body of the Blood Tiger King, not in a hurry to check -- he had scooped everything under the body of the Blood Tiger King into his backpack in one go, and at thest moment snatched a demon from under Wukong''s exterior selves'' hands.


    Otherwise, missing thest demon required toplete the profession change mission would have truly been frustrating.


    After snatching a demon from Sun Wukong, the first phase of the profession change mission waspleted. Jiang Liu silently recited ''mission list'' and focused on the profession change mission.


    Indeed, the profession change mission had undergone a new change.


    Profession Change Mission (2/3): Use healing skills to deliver a healing effect to 200 injured targets, current taskpletion 0/200.


    Seeing this second phase of the profession change mission, Jiang Liu''s expression turned slightly strange.


    Since monk professions tend to be supportive, this profession change mission seems quite reasonable, right?


    Is it really just about delivering a healing effect to 200 injured targets?


    Looking around, there were not many demon creatures left on Returning Wind Mountain, all either dead or injured. Jiang Liu spotted one injured demon general, and with a thought, he cast the Guanyin Mantra skill on it.


    A greenish light entered the body of the demon general. Visibly, its injuries healed significantly, and its health bar also recovered somewhat.


    Notification: Current missionpletion 1/200.


    Indeed, after receiving the system''s notification, Jiang Liu felt secretly pleased. So any injured target would do?


    Looking at it this way, this task seemed not so difficult toplete after all and might even be easier than the first phase?


    Boom!


    Jiang Liu was quietly rejoicing when a Jingu Bang fell, and the demon general that had just received the healing effect from the Guanyin Mantra was struck. Its head burst open, twitched on the ground for a few moments, and then reverted to its original form.


    Although the effects of the Guanyin Mantra were quite good, the cooldown time was a full 600 seconds. Given the situation, by the time his next Guanyin Mantra was ready, wouldn''t all these demon creatures be finished off by Sun Wukong?


    "Wukong, cough cough, teacher thinks we may be being too cruel. How about letting your teacher first heal their injuries?"


    Although he felt a bit awkward saying it, this was also toplete the mission as quickly as possible and enhance his own strength, so Jiang Liu cleared his throat and spoke to Sun Wukong.


    "Ah? Master, are you thinking of letting these demons off the hook?" Sun Wukong, the real one, rested the Jingu Bang on his shoulder, watching the scene unfold, and was taken aback by Jiang Liu''s words.


    Immediately afterward, he said strangely, "Master, wasn''t it you who always said to eradicate evil thoroughly, to totally exterminate these harmful demons so they can''t harm the people?"


    "No, the teacher was just saying to first heal them, not to let them go," Jiang Liu shook his head and corrected.


    "So you heal first, then kill? I didn''t expect you to be this kind of master, you''re even harsher than I, Old Sun"


    "Monkey, stop goofing around and talk properly."


    ...


    In the end, all the demon creatures were still killed by Sun Wukong, and Jiang Liu didn''t wait for the Guanyin Mantra''s skill to cool down.


    Though unintended, Sun Wukong''s words did stir something in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    The journey to Western Heaven was 108,000 miles¡ªa wild gamble, betting their own lives and Gaoyang''s, and now, even Sun Wukong had been dragged onto this pirate ship. Throughout these 108,000 miles, Jiang Liu indeed wanted to be as strong as possible.


    But to be stronger, does one really need to be unscrupulous and abandon all principles?


    These demon creatures indeed deserved to die, but having killed them, did he really need to keep them to farm a Guanyin Mantra before finishing them off?


    Isn''t that mocking life itself?


    It''s like people ughtering a pig for meat¡ªkilling and butchering it is fine, but is it necessary to cut off an ear today and a leg tomorrow?


    Such actions seemed even crueller than what demons would do, right?


    Recalling the cup of wine given by Emperor of Tang Li Shimin when he left Chang''an, symbolizing not to forget his original intentions on his journey to the Western Heaven,


    Therefore, the idea of waiting for the skill to cool down and consecutively using the Guanyin Mantra before killing came instinctively, but it quickly faded away.


    After all the demon creatures had been defeated by Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong continued up the mountain to search around Returning Wind Mountain and see if they could find the vigers from Xiaotian Vige.


    He had promised the old man in the vige toe to Returning Wind Mountain and rescue people from the demon''sir.


    However, after searching the demon''sir, they found no living persons, just some limbs and severed bodies.


    With hundreds of demons and only twenty to thirty households in Xiaotian Vige, it seemed the vigers had all perished.


    Having found no survivors after searching, Jiang Liu didn''t know how he would break this tragic news to the old grandfather back in Xiaotian Vige.


    Yet, he couldn''t just not tell him¡ªthe old man was still waiting for good news.


    "Wukong, let''s go..."


    Imagining the old grandfather''s reaction to this tragic news made Jiang Liu feel somewhat distressed, so he called on Sun Wukong and they began descending the mountain toward Xiaotian Vige.


    Along the way, Jiang Liu pondered for a moment and decided to tell the truth, and as for how to handle the situation afterward, he would see how the old grandfather reacted.


    A human tragedy¡ªone can only do his best.


    At the same time, as he walked, Jiang Liu also considered whether he should stay in a town and offer healing for free?


    If he operated in this manner, it seemed thatpleting the second phase of the profession advancement mission wouldn''t be too difficult.


    Of course, while he was thinking, Jiang Liu also opened his inventory to check what items had dropped from the Blood Tiger King''s death...


    Alert: Mission "Exterminate Demon Horde"pleted, 12,000 Experience Points acquired, Green Lotus Staff obtained.


    But before Jiang Liu could take a closer look at what dropped from the Blood Tiger King, almost at the same time, a system alert sounded.


    Before his eyes, in the small grid of the inventory space, a Zen Staff mysteriously appeared.

 Chapter 96 New Legendary Quality Equipment and Sheep Transformation Technique

    Thepletion of this task left Jiang Liu feeling exceedingly satisfied.


    Hunting the demon creatures of Returning Wind Mountain was something he had already intended to do, and stumbling upon this quest allowed him to gain an easy 12,000 Experience Points and a Green Lotus Zen Staff to boot.


    His gaze fell upon the Green Lotus Zen Staff, and the corresponding attribute information naturally appeared before Jiang Liu''s eyes.


    Green Lotus Staff (Perfect Level): Required Level 20, Attack +185, Special Effect: Healing skills and items'' effects increased by +10%, Durability 16/20.


    Seeing the attributes of this Green Lotus Staff, Jiang Liu felt a secret thrill of surprise within himself.


    Though the Demon Subduing Staff had decent attributes, it was ultimately a weapon meant for Level 10, which made it somewhat redundant for the current Jiang Liu; its effects on attack power couldn''tpare to those of the Demon-Subduing Mantra skill. This Green Lotus Staff was exactly the equipment Jiang Liu needed now.


    While the Green Lotus Staff''s attributes made Jiang Liu ecstatic, the loot dropped by the Blood Tiger King made him even more eager¡ªit was his first time obtaining items dropped by a Demon King Level monster.


    Upon carefully looking through his bag space, Jiang Liu found that the Blood Tiger King had dropped a Mana Potion, two Healing Potions, a ring, a pair of shoes, and a Skill Book.


    The loot wasn''t particrly plentiful, yet it was far from scarce.


    The few potions were not worth much attention, so Jiang Liu''s gaze first settled on the ring.


    True Dragon Ring (Fine Quality): Required Level 15, Attack +35, Durability 5/10.


    This ring''s attribute information made Jiang Liu secretly shake his head. Although he was indeed in need of a ring, a Fine Quality one hardly seemed worthy of the status of a Demon King such as the Blood Tiger King.


    Nheless, despite the inward sigh, Jiang Liu still took out the ring and slipped it onto his finger, finding the additional 35 Attack to be a decent effect.


    Next, Jiang Liu''s eyes moved to examine a pair of shoes, and their attribute information materialized before him as well.


    shing Brilliance Shoes (Legendary Level): Required Level 20, Defense +460, Special Effect: Allows instantaneous movement within a 10-meter radius, Cooldown Time 300 seconds, Durability 4/30.


    Jiang Liu: "..."


    Looking at the attributes of these shing Brilliance Shoes, Jiang Liu was greatly surprised. Neither the potions nor the ring had been anything special, and he had initially thought that he had run out of luck, only to find that the true surprisey at the end.


    Even though Legendary Quality equipment required only Level 20 and was notably inferior to the Vidyaraja Crown, this was still his second piece of Legendary Level equipment. Both the added defense and special effect were excellent.


    However, seeing the mere 4 points of durability remaining, Jiang Liu shook his head internally.


    If he couldn''t find a way to repair this durability, wouldn''t these shing Brilliance Shoes be useless soon?


    Looking at the information for the shing Brilliance Shoes, Jiang Liu felt both joy and helplessness flood his mind, leading to a moment ofplex emotions. After a brief struggle, he finally turned his attention to another Skill Book.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Sheep Transformation Technique: Required Level 20, requires the Demon Master profession.


    "Huh? Is this a Skill Book for a Taoist profession after job advancement to Demon Master? Sheep Transformation Technique? This skill sounds quite magical," Jiang Liu''s eyes brightened as he saw the Skill Book.


    Just as Monk professions could change jobs at Level 20, so could Taoist professions. Other than the output-focused Heavenly Master that uses spells, there was also the curse and control type Demon Master profession, to which this Sheep Transformation Technique belonged.


    Although his profession was different, he had already reached the required level. What''s more, his Special Equipment, the Skill Bookcase, could store three Skill Books not of his own profession. Apart from the Swift Fire Bead, he still had two avable slots.


    With a thought, Jiang Liu took out the Skill Book for the Sheep Transformation Technique and ced it into the Skill Bookcase.


    Hint: Do you want to spend 1 Skill Point to learn the Sheep Transformation Technique?


    As Jiang Liu made his move, the corresponding system prompt appeared. Without any hesitation, Jiang Liu naturally chose to ept.


    Sheep Transformation Technique: Turns any target into a cute and harmlessmb for a duration of 2 seconds. The target is unable to attack or use any skills during this state. Cooldown time: 300 seconds.


    "Another control-type Divine Skill!" Looking at the details of this skill, Jiang Liu''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Although the duration is only a mere 2 seconds, in the heat of battle, these 2 seconds can be quite significant. If used well, it could be enough to turn the tide of a fight.


    Having obtained Legendary Level equipment and what could be considered a Divine Level control skill, Jiang Liu felt very pleased with himself.


    Immediately, his gaze shifted to Sun Wukong. Having just acquired such a wondrous ability, he naturally wanted to test it out.


    Clearing his throat, Jiang Liu spoke up, "Cough cough, Wukong, your master has an unripe confusion that I wonder about..."


    "Don''t even talk about it!" However, before Jiang Liu could finish his sentence, the monkey quickly stepped away, maintaining a certain distance and watching him warily.


    "Uh..." Sun Wukong''s swift reaction caused Jiang Liu to pause, unable to finish the rest of his sentence.


    Had this monkey be too cunning? Was he no longer as easy to deceive as before?


    "Rx, I just have a question for you. Don''t you trust me?" his mouth twitched slightly as Jiang Liu revealed a genial smile, appearing very approachable.


    "Don''t trust!" But Sun Wukong continued to watch Jiang Liu with caution, firmly shaking his head.


    "You mischievous monkey, you don''t even trust your master? You better cool down a bit!"


    Since talking didn''t help and Sun Wukong was not willing to cooperate, Jiang Liu didn''t feel the need to ask for his consent. Lifting his finger, he pointed at Sun Wukong and activated the Sheep Transformation Technique.


    An odd glow shed over Sun Wukong''s body, but his form remained the same, still in the shape of a monkey without turning into amb.


    "Huh? The skill failed?" Seeing that Sun Wukong''s appearance hadn''t changed, Jiang Liu was stunned and quite astonished.


    "Eh? Master, do you actually know a spell simr to the Seventy-Two Transformations?" While Jiang Liu was puzzled, Sun Wukong looked even more surprised on the side.


    "A spell simr to the Seventy-Two Transformations?" Sun Wukong''s remark caused a lightbulb to go off in Jiang Liu''s mind, hinting at the possible reason why the Sheep Transformation Technique had failed.


    Indeed, although Sun Wukong was amazed by Jiang Liu''s Sheep Transformation Technique, he shook his head and said, "I, Old Sun, am proficient in the Seventy-Two Transformations. Although your spell is exquisite, it''s impossible for it to change I, Old Sun''s form."


    "So that''s how it is," Sun Wukong''s words made Jiang Liue to a sudden realization.


    Sun Wukong was originally adept at the Art of Transformation, and his Cultivation Level was far beyond Jiang Liu''s own. It seemed only natural that the Sheep Transformation Technique would be ineffective on him, didn''t it?


    In light of this, the value of the Sheep Transformation Technique seemed to diminish somewhat. However, overall, it was still a very practical Divine Skill for Jiang Liu at the moment.


    After all, Demon Creatures proficient in the Art of Transformation and with a Cultivation Level like Sun Wukong''s are rare.


    Chatting and bickering, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong were soon back in Xiaotian Vige.


    From a distance, they could see the ominously quiet entrance to Xiaotian Vige. There, an old man with a hunched back looked expectantly in their direction...

 Chapter 97 Speculations on Quest Trigger Conditions

    The old man, hunched over, stood at the entrance of the vige and gazed in the distance. As he saw Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong approaching, he hastened towards them with faltering steps.


    However, upon seeing only Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong, the faint smile initially on the old man''s face slowly faded, "Holy Monk, have only you returned? What about the other vigers?"


    The hope in the old man''s eyes seemed to clutch at a lifeline amidst despair.


    Jiang Liu, hesitant to meet his gaze, turned his head slightly but still disclosed the truth, "When we arrived, all the captured vigers had already been killed."


    "Have they all died? Have all of them died?" The old man murmured in a dazed whisper after hearing Jiang Liu''s words.


    "Since everyone is dead, and I''m just an old man left, what''s the point of me living anymore..." Ovee with despair, the old man suddenly cried out and, losing all will to live, fiercely banged his head against a nearby tree.


    The old man''s sudden action startled Jiang Liu, who attempted to grab him but it was toote.


    However, having battled so many times, Jiang Liu quickly reacted, lifting a finger and pointing at the old man rushing towards the tree: "Vajra Mantra."


    The mysterious power of the Vajra protected the old man, granting him immunity from 80% of the impending damage.


    When his head struck the tree, the old man lost his bnce and fell to the ground. He simply rubbed his head, which swelled slightly, but the skin was unbroken.


    "Old grandpa, why resort to this?" Jiang Liu hurried over and helped him up, saying.


    "I''m now just a lonely old man with no one left. How can I go on living? I''d rather die and perhaps catch up with them on the Underworld Road..." The old man cried out heart-wrenchingly.


    This left Jiang Liu speechless.


    Indeed, it would be extremely difficult for the old man to continue living alone at his age when he needed care.


    "Old grandpa, don''t you have any other rtives?", Jiang Liu asked after a moment''s thought.


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s question, the old man gradually stopped wailing but still shook his head, "I do have a daughter who married far away in Wu City, but it''s over three hundred miles from here. How can I possibly travel such a distance alone..."


    "Wu City? Over three hundred miles? Where is it located?", Jiang Liu persisted upon learning that the old man had onest rtive in the world.


    "Wu City is roughly to the southeast of Xiaotian Vige," the old man replied.


    "To the southeast!?," Upon hearing the old man''s directions, Jiang Liu''s eyes momentarily brightened.


    "Master, you aren''t thinking of taking this old man to Wu City, are you?" Noticing something off in Jiang Liu''s expression, Sun Wukong couldn''t help but speak up, "We are on a journey to the Western Heaven, continuously heading west. If Wu City were to the west, it would be on our way, but it''s unfortunately to the southeast. That means we''ll have to make a detour."


    "A detour..." Jiang Liu let a hint of a smile flicker in his eyes, yet his face showed apassionate look as he firmly stated, "Wukong, as the saying goes, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Although it means taking a detour to Wu City, if we can save a life, isn''t it worth it?"


    "Master, you really are a good person," Seeing Jiang Liu''s stance, clearly non-negotiable, Sun Wukong helplessly rolled his eyes.


    "Wukong, never say that your master is a good person. In my hometown, calling someone a good person is actually a form of insult," Jiang Liu earnestly instructed Sun Wukong.


    "What a coincidence, it means the same in Flower Fruit Mountain too."


    "Monkey, stop fooling around and speak properly..."


    After a brief verbal spat, Jiang Liu ignored Sun Wukong''s intentions, turned his head, and addressed the elder beside him, "Old grandfather, although it''s over 300 miles to Wu City, my disciples and I are willing to escort you there. How about it?"


    "Ah? Holy Monk, wouldn''t that greatly dy your journey? I, I dare not ept such a burden..." the elder said, overwhelmed by Jiang Liu''s offer to take a long detour to escort him to Wu City.


    "It''s settled then, old grandfather, do you have anything to pack? If not, we can depart now," Jiang Liu waved his hand, not giving the elder a chance to refuse.


    "This..." the elder stared at Jiang Liu in surprise, somewhat baffled. It seemed as if the Holy Monk was even more eager than he was?


    Unaware onlookers might think he actually enjoyed taking the long way around.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "In that case, I greatly thank you, Holy Monk, for your profound kindness. I dare not forget this for as long as I live," the elder said gratefully, almost pushed into the journey to Wu City like a duck being herded up a ramp, feeling truly that this was the benevolence of the Holy Monk of Great Tang, akin to that of a Bodhisattva.


    Hint: Triggered mission "Escort." Mission requirements: sessfully escort the elder from Xiaotian Vige to Wu City. Reward uponpletion: 7000 Experience Points. Penalty for failure: none.


    Just then, a prompt from the game system suddenly appeared, causing Jiang Liu to pause slightly. Another mission triggered?


    Earlier, when he decided to go to Returning Wind Mountain to investigate if the vigers from Xiaotian Vige were still alive, the system assigned him an "Exorcise Demons" task. Now, as he decided to escort the elder to Wu City, the system was handing out an escort mission?


    Both tasks matched exactly what he was about to do, as if the system was finding excuses to give him missions?


    "Is it a coincidence? It seems that every time I decide to do something, the system then issues a task. Could this be the key to triggering my missions?" With this new understanding after analyzing the situation, Jiang Liu formed a rough hypothesis in his mind.


    With this hypothesis, naturally, he wanted to test it thoroughly.


    "Wukong, see that big rock up ahead? I am going to smash it!"


    "This tree here, it''s really not in a good ce, growing by the roadside. What if it bumps into someone? I''ll smash it down."


    ...


    Sun Wukong and the elder, watching Jiang Liu''s peculiar behavior, exchanged looks, both finding it rather odd.


    "Um, has Holy Monk Xuanzang always been like this?" the elder asked Sun Wukong in a low voice after a moment of silence, gesturing towards his own head.


    "Exactly, yes," Sun Wukong nodded emphatically.


    Speaking exaggeratedly aloud about what he was going to do, Jiang Liu noticed, however, that even after several announcements, the system prompt showed no reaction. He wondered silently, was it because these deeds were too trivial? Merely petty matters that couldn''t form a mission?


    Or was it because the previous two missions involved deciding to help others, and the tasks he was now undertaking didn''t help anyone?


    With this thought in mind, Jiang Liu turned to the elder and asked, "Old grandfather, are you thirsty? I will fetch you a bowl of water to drink."


    Hearing Jiang Liu''s words, the elder reflexively stepped back two steps: "No need, Holy Monk, I am not thirsty."


    "No, you are thirsty!"

 Chapter 98 The Little White Dragon Who Came Knocking

    From Xiaotian Vige to Wu City, a distance of two to three hundred miles, an ordinary person probably needs two to three days just walking on foot.


    However, if you''re also bringing along an elderly grandfather, hunched over in his advance, the time required bes unknowable.


    But walking slowly is one thing; there''s no rush on my part. If the old man can''t cover twenty miles a day, then we''ll do ten, and if not ten, then five.


    Dragging our feet, whenever the old man gets tired, Jiang Liu rests, and when mealtime arrives, he sets up a stove to start a fire and cook¡­


    So, after a good five or six days on the road, how much farther it is to Wu City remains a mystery.


    "Holy Monk¡­" the old man, leaning on a wooden branch as a walking stick, looked at the dinner Jiang Liu was preparing, the deer meat being grilled, and unconsciously swallowed, saying, "If this deer were used as a ride for this old man, perhaps we could reach Wu City much faster, right?"


    "Amitabha, Benefactor, you are not aware that in order to prove the sincerity of my journey to the West, I must take one step at a time.


    Otherwise, using my disciple''s supernatural powers, soaring through the clouds andmanding the fog, we could reach Western Spirit Mountain in no time¡ªso why would there be any need to travel on foot?" Jiang Liu said, while flipping the deer meat to make sure it cooked evenly.


    "I see. Holy Monk, your journey indeed umtes immense merit. Thus, this old man dares not dy your travels any longer. From now on, I will try to quicken my pace," the old man replied with newfound respect after hearing Jiang Liu''s answer.


    "No need!" Jiang Liu hurriedly shook his head upon hearing the old man''s words.


    Then he seemed to realize his response was a bit too eager, his tone once again bing much more rxed: "Benefactor, do not trouble yourself. You are advanced in age and frail, making long journeys inconvenient. Should any harme to you on the way, my merit would turn into sin."


    "Master, at your current pace, a mere journey of eighty-one thousand miles, it will take no less than six to seven years to reach the Western Heaven to see Tathagata," Sun Wukong, who was eagerly eyeing the roast meat, couldn''t help but interject.


    As he spoke, he sniffed a few times, feeling impatient for the smell of the roasting meat and reached out for it: "Master, is the meat ready yet? I, Old Sun, have been hungry for a long time."


    "Don''t be in such a monkey hurry, it still needs a while¡­" Jiang Liu said, annoyed as he pped Sun Wukong''s hand away, murmuring under his breath, "Six to seven years? Wouldn''t that be the end of it?"


    Having his hand pped away didn''t anger Sun Wukong. Hearing his master''s quiet murmur, he smiled and said, "If you are in a hurry, Master, I, Old Sun, could carry you for a stretch. A disciple is here to share the load; should not count as¡­"


    "Say no more, Wukong. I have already made up my mind to walk every step of the way to Spirit Mountain!" Jiang Liu said with a serious expression.


    Yet in his heart, he sighed secretly. Six to seven years to reach Spirit Mountain? Wouldn''t that be disaster? Didn''t it take more than a decade in the original story? Does that mean I have to find ways to dy as much as possible or take detours?


    Soon after the roast was finished, a pot of vegetable and meat soup was also ready. Jiang Liu served the old man a bowl of soup and a piece of roast meat, and everyone enjoyed their meal to the fullest.


    Especially Sun Wukong, who, although he had eaten many meals prepared by Jiang Liu before, seemed to never tire of them.


    After having their fill, Sun Wukong thought it was time to set off, but Jiang Liu waved his hand and said, "Monkey, it''s gettingte, and it''s not good to exert oneself right after a full meal. We''ll camp out on the road tonight."


    Sun Wukong paused, ncing towards the horizon where the sun still hung in the west; it would be at least another Chinese Hour before darkness fell.


    Moreover, at his master''s pace, how could it be considered strenuous exercise? It was more like an after-dinner walk, wasn''t it?


    But who is he to argue with his master? Even though he had his internalints, seeing Jiang Liu already seated in meditation, cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, Sun Wukong said nothing more and obediently went to find a ce to clean the bowls and pot.


    Time slipped by, moment by moment; the old many on the ground resting, with nothing to do.


    Sun Wukong alsoy on the grass nearby, with a small twig in his mouth, legs crossed, looking at the swallows returning to their nests in the sky, and couldn''t help but think of Flower Fruit Mountain. He wondered how all those little ones were doing?


    Next to him, as the sky grew darker, Jiang Liu''s True Yuanpleted eighty-one Complete Cycles within his body, and his cultivation session came to an end. He slowly opened his eyes, noticing both the person and the monkey lounging about aimlessly.


    He pondered to himself, in this ancient world, there really were no entertainment activities once evening fell in the wilderness. Should he find some fun for them?


    How about teaching them the way of chess, letting the two of them y chess to pass the time?


    However, considering the monkey''s temperament, settling down to y chess? He just didn''t have the patience for it.


    Or how about the three of them ying Fight the Landlord? And maybe y Mahjong during the Journey to the West with all four disciples?


    "No, no, my time is much too precious to waste on that," Jiang Liu immediately shook his head as the idea of ying Fight the Landlord and Mahjong had barely arisen, casting aside that "evil" thought.


    Suddenly, while Jiang Liu was daydreaming, Sun Wukong¡ªwho was next to him, utterly bored and unable to sleep¡ªbrightened up, sitting up abruptly.


    Facing the inquiring gazes of Jiang Liu and the old man beside him, Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, there is Demon Qi. It seems we again have a Demon Creature seeking death."


    No sooner had Sun Wukong''s voice fallen than shortly after, a demon walking upright leapt out from the grass nearby. It was a Frog Demon, standing over a meter tall when upright.


    "Can walk upright, is it a Demon Soldier?" Seeing the Frog Demon that had sprung out, Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A Demon Soldier, that meant a demon of level 20 and above. This was Experience Points delivered to their doorstep.


    "Good demon creature, you dare to seek death here..." Sun Wukong was getting bored and seemed ready to make the first move.


    "Wukong, step back, let your master handle this!" Jiang Liu raised the Green Lotus Staff in his hand, shouting out loud at the same time.


    The Frog Demon that had leapt out, seeing the menacing look of the man and the monkey, was startled and fell seated on the ground, crying out hurriedly, "Holy Monk, wait, I... I have been entrusted by someone to find you."


    What?


    This statement from the Frog Demon made Jiang Liu pause, and he withdrew the Green Lotus Staff he was about to smash down.


    Sun Wukong also changed his punch to a grab, catching the Frog Demon and subduing it, without delivering a fatal blow.


    "You''ve been entrusted by someone to find me? Entrusted by whom?" Looking curiously at the Frog Demon, Jiang Liu asked. On their way to the Western Heaven, why would a demon go out of its way to find him, and entrusted by someone, no less?


    "What... what kind of people are these..." Captured by Sun Wukong''s iron-d monkey paw, the Frog Demon felt its liver and galldder tremble. If it hadn''t cried out just in time, would it now have been obliterated?


    Such danger! Such terror!


    "Didn''t you hear my master asking you? Speak quickly!" While the Frog Demon harbored fear and silent curses, Sun Wukong revealed a fierce expression, growling in a low voice.


    Seeing Sun Wukong''s fierce look, the Frog Demon was utterly rmed, no longer daring to let its thoughts wander, and quickly started speaking.


    "It was a White Dragon from Serpent Coiling Mountain Eagle Sorrow Gully who sent me to find the Holy Monk."

 Chapter 99 Ugly Rejection

    ```


    The White Dragon of Serpent Coiling Mountain Eagle Sorrow Gully!?


    Upon hearing these words from the Frog Demon, Jiang Liu was stunned for a moment.


    Others might not know, but how could Jiang Liu be unaware? That was his future mount, the White Dragon Horse, right?


    He hadn''t even been to Eagle Sorrow Gully yet, so howe it had specifically sent a demon to find him? What was going on?


    "Master, do you recognize that white dragon?" Hearing the Frog Demon''s words, Sun Wukong turned his head to nce at Jiang Liu and asked.


    "No!", Jiang Liu decisively replied upon hearing this.


    Given his current situation, he shouldn''t know the Little White Dragon, so naturally, Jiang Liu would not admit it.


    Initially, when he went looking for Sun Wukong, he merely used an excuse to take a detour, and that''s why he visited Five Elements Mountain to take a look at the monkey that was being suppressed.


    "Hehe, since you don''t recognize it, then there''s no need to keep this fellow around, right?" Getting Jiang Liu''s answer, Sun Wukong grinned broadly, his gaze falling on the Frog Demon he held in his hand.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Although the Frog Demon had likely reached the level of a Demon Soldier, in front of Sun Wukong, how could it possibly muster any thoughts of resistance?


    Seeing the fierce look in Sun Wukong''s eyes, the Frog Demon trembled and cried out in panic, "Don''t, don''t kill me, Great Sage, I, I truly just came to deliver a message, I didn''t deceive you."


    "Oh? You Little Demon, you actually have some knowledge, to be able to recognize I, Old Sun?" Enjoying the Frog Demon''s response, Sun Wukong''s eyes narrowed with delight, and he even shook his tail behind him.


    On the Journey to the West, he liked to tell everyone that he was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, how he caused Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago, and so on. Now, without him having to say it himself, others could recognize him on their own. Sun Wukong was naturally pleased, and it even made the Frog Demon seem much more pleasing to the eye.


    "I recognize you, I recognize you! The Little White Dragon said, Great Sage, you were guided by Bodhisattva Guanyin, the chief disciple of the Holy Monk, and the Little White Dragon has also been enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin, transforming into a White Dragon Horse.


    He is willing to travel thousands of miles, carrying the Holy Monk to the Western Heaven for a visit," the Frog Demon rushed to nod and quickly exined.


    "Master, it looks like we need to make a trip to Eagle Sorrow Gully. Guanyin has enlightened another disciple for you, to serve as your mount...," Sun Wukong let go of the Frog Demon and turned to speak to Jiang Liu.


    "Nonsense!"


    Jiang Liu''s expression was serious as he solemnly shook his head and said to the Frog Demon: "You evil demon, trying to use this excuse to deceive this monk and escape with your life? Amitabha, leave at once, and I may spare you from death. Otherwise, if you speak any more, I will surely strike you down right here!"


    "Holy Monk, every word I''ve said is true..." Seeing that Tang Monk did not believe him, the Frog Demon cried out loud.


    "Hmm?", however, hearing the Frog Demon''s shouts, Jiang Liu''s eyebrows raised slightly, his eyes looked threateningly at it, and in his hand, the Green Lotus Staff was also raised.


    The threat was clear without words.


    "Holy Monk, I''m leaving now!" Seeing Jiang Liu''s demeanor was not joking at all, the Frog Demon didn''t dare say anything else. Terrified, it turned and dove into a nearby patch of grass, quickly fleeing towards the distance.


    Watching the escaping Frog Demon, Sun Wukong didn''t make a move but seemed somewhat puzzled as he scratched his head and looked at Jiang Liu: "Master, you said that the Frog Demon was deceiving us? But I, Old Sun, don''t think it sounds like a lie."


    "Old Sun, brains are a good thing, and I hope you have one. Alright, enough talking, let''s rest," Jiang Liu nced at Sun Wukong and said with a slight shake of his head.


    "Master, you are just being obstinate. It''s clearly you who are mistaken, right? The words of the Frog Demon didn''t seem deceitful," Sun Wukong felt a bit wronged by Jiang Liu''s reaction.


    It was clear that the Master was wrong, yet he said that Sun Wukong was the onecking intelligence?


    ```


    However, Jiang Liu didn''t say anything more in response to Sun Wukong''s low grumbles. After resting for so long, he sat cross-legged once again and continued to rotate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound cultivation technique to enhance his Experience Points.


    In reality, what the Frog Demon had said was true¡ªhow could Jiang Liu not know?


    He hadn''t expected the Little White Dragon in Eagle Sorrow Stream to want his help before he could even get there; instead, the Demon had eagerly sought him out, which truly surprised Jiang Liu.


    However, after much thought, Jiang Liu didn''t really want to rescue the Little White Dragon, let alone travel with him to the Western Heaven.


    First, although Jiang Liu had indeed embarked on the Journey to the West, the end of this road involved a life-and-death struggle with Buddhism for himself. Thus, dragging his feet and arriving in the Western Heaven aste as possible was better to maximize his time for growth.


    This was the main reason why he was willing to take this roundabout way to bring the old man to Wu City.


    Why not take one''s time to walk to the Western Heaven, dying as much as possible? Why ride a horse?


    Wasn''t that just rushing towards one''s demise?


    Secondly, since his journey to the Western Heaven involved a deadly contest with the Heavenly Deities and Buddha, that was the fundamental reason why Sun Wukong was willing to leave his retreat and apany him. Seeing how eagerly the Little White Dragon wanted to join, it was clear that he was sincerely devoted to the Journey to the West.


    This was quite the opposite of Jiang Liu''s intentions.


    Jiang Liu felt that the Little White Dragon could potentially be an eye of surveince nted by Buddhism within the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team.


    Therefore, from his own standpoint, Jiang Liu was extremely reluctant to take the Little White Dragon as his mount.


    Sun Wukong believed what the Frog Demon had said was true, and indeed, it was; however, from a strategic perspective, he couldn''t allow the Little White Dragon to join the Journey to the West Team.


    Thus, even though he knew it was true, he could not admit it and could only im that the Frog Demon was deceiving them.


    "Sigh, although this Monkey is not stupid, he tends to think in a straightforward manner without considering the bigger picture," Jiang Liu thought, sighing inwardly as he remembered Sun Wukong''s aggrieved mumbling.


    But then again, if Sun Wukong truly had such insight and could see so far ahead, he probably wouldn''t have ended up being subdued under the Five Elements Mountain.


    The night passed without conversation, and as the sun rose once again, Jiang Liu continued with his cooking tasks, boiling a pot of porridge and making sure everyone had their fill before slowly hitting the road, heading southeast...


    Meanwhile, in another part of the world, within Serpent Coiling Mountain Eagle Sorrow Gully, a Little White Dragon was lying quietly in the water, waiting for responses from the Little Demons he had dispatched.


    Ever since he received enlightenment from the Bodhisattva, the Little White Dragon quietly awaited the arrival of the Scripture Seeker, even organizing some Little Demons to keep an eye out for any monks passing by, in fear of missing the Scripture Seekers.


    With great difficulty, he finally spotted the traces of the Scripture Seeker, and the Little White Dragon felt a swell of joy in his heart, believing his days trapped in Eagle Sorrow Gully were about to end.


    Yet, as he watched the Scripture Seeker approaching from the west, he didn''t expect them to turn back halfway and grow increasingly distant.


    This made the Little White Dragon anxious, and with no other choice, he sent a Little Demon to chase after the Scripture Seeker.


    "I''m back, I''m back...", just as anxiety was mounting in the Little White Dragon''s heart, a shouting voice echoed. Immediately after, a Frog Demon sshed down from above into Eagle Sorrow Gully, swimming up to the Little White Dragon.


    "Well? Did you find the Scripture Seeker? When will hee to rescue me?"


    Seeing the Little Demon he had sent out returning, the Little White Dragon asked eagerly.

 Chapter 100 Tasks with Attached Failure Penalties

    ```


    Trudging along, a day''s journey might cover twenty to thirty miles; there was no rush. After half a month or so, they finally could see a city in the distance, and atst, they were within the bounds of Wu City.


    Entering the city, they inquired about the old man''s daughter''s whereabouts, and upon finding her home, they visited her.


    Upon hearing the tragic news from Xiaotian Vige, the daughter wept bitterly. Of course, she was endlessly grateful for Jiang Liu''s kind act of bringing her father to her.


    "Holy Monk, for your immense kindness, I will be forever indebted..." the old man also turned his head and earnestly said to Jiang Liu.


    For the old man, Jiang Liu''s action was nothing less than the grace of saving his life.


    After all, without his escort along the way, an old man like himself, alone and without family, would have surely perished, whether he stayed in Xiaotian Vige or set out on the road by himself.


    "It''s time to part ways, old benefactor," with his palms pressed together, Jiang Liu bade his farewell. Seeing that the daughter and son-inw were willing to take care of the old man, Jiang Liu felt quite content.


    Tip: Mission "Escort"pleted, reward 7000 Experience Points.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After bidding farewell to the old man, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong strolled through Wu City, stopping at a grain store to replenish their supplies of rice, flour, and vegetables.


    Although Wu City was no longer within the territory of the Great Tang, where copper coins were no longer epted, fortunately, gold and silver were universally epted currencies.


    However, after stocking up on rice, flour, and vegetables, Jiang Liu showed no hurry to leave Wu City. Instead, he spent some silver coins to set up a stall and put up a sign that read clearly: Free treatment for sprains and injuries, no charge.


    Yet, with the sign set up, almost a whole day passed without anyoneing over, leaving Jiang Liu somewhat baffled.


    Could the city really be that safe? No one had even the simplest of injuries?


    Or could it be that, despite the free services advertised, his stall simply went unnoticed?


    "Maybe I need to ce some advertisements?" Jiang Liu mused after some thought.


    If people didn''t know about his stall, they wouldn''te to him for healing, which meant the second stage of his ss-change mission could be dyed indefinitely.


    While he was quite willing to dy the Journey to the West, he hoped toplete this ss-change mission sooner rather thanter.


    "Master, we''ve had hardly anyonee by; isn''t this terribly boring?" Sun Wukongined, lying on a bamboo rattan chair, idly swatting at flies. He watched the indifferent passersby and couldn''t help but speak out.


    "Hmm, so, Monkey, how about you do a few somersaults?" Jiang Liu nodded slightly and suggested to Sun Wukong.


    To attract attention, some advertising was needed, and performing a monkey show seemed to be an effective way. Besides, there was already a monkey on hand.


    "No, my somersaults won''t draw as much attention as you removing your hat. Just take it off, and you''ll create an instant sensation," Sun Wukong said nonchntly as he picked his nose and flicked away a booger.


    "Huh? You can be quite sharp sometimes, Monkey," Jiang Liu was momentarily surprised, then his eyes lit up upon hearing Sun Wukong''s remark.


    "Of course!" Sun Wukong responded proudly, his tail wagging behind him.


    However, it didn''t take long for the Monkey to realize something, "Wait? Hey, Master, are you saying I''m usually stupid?"


    Jiang Liu merely smiled at Sun Wukong''s question and didn''t answer. Heeding his suggestion, he took off the Vidyaraja crown from his head and ced it on the table beside him.


    The twelve Incense Scar Initiations on his head were nowpletely revealed.


    Indeed, just as Sun Wukong had said, the passersby who nced at Jiang Liu''s stall were instantly drawn to the twelve distinctive marks on his head, causing a buzz of amazement.


    In no more than the time it takes for half a tea to brew, the crowd had swarmed Jiang Liu''s stall, threeyers deep inside and out.


    ```


    "Everyone, this poor monk is on a divine mission from the Emperor of Tang to pray to Buddha and seek scriptures in Western Heaven. Passing by here is kismet, and thus I have set up a stall with the intent to offer free treatment of sprains and injuries to the people, as a form of good deed," Jiang Liu said as he saw countless people crowding around his stall, forming rings both inside and out.


    As expected, fame does indeed make things easier.


    In no time, many people had learned that a monk with the Incense Scar Initiation was offering free treatment for injuries. One after another, people began to seek his aid.


    Conditions such as colds and flu are beyond my capabilities to heal. I can only treat injuries from falls and blows.


    Some people got hurt when they fell while repairing roofs; some cut their fingers while chopping vegetables at home; others injured themselves while practicing martial arts...


    For these injuries, Jiang Liu naturally turned no one away. Using the Guanyin Mantra skill over and over, their injuries, not too severe to begin with, were healed as their health bars above their heads were replenished with each application of the skill.


    To onlookers, Jiang Liu''s methods appeared to be immediately effective, enhancing his reputation even further.


    Reminder: Quest progression for ss change is 14/200.


    Reminder: Quest progression for ss change is 22/200.


    Reminder: Quest progression for ss change is 33/200.


    ...


    One after another, people came seeking treatment for their injuries, but the Guanyin Mantra skill required a 600-second cooldown time, which greatly limited the speed ofpleting the task.


    However, seeing thepletion of the task gradually increasing, Jiang Liu was quite satisfied. At this rate, he should be able to finish the second task of the ss change in just a few days.


    But as the seconds and minutes ticked away and the sky gradually darkened, suddenly, a dozen soldiers in armor pushed through the crowd and approached Jiang Liu.


    "Master, please lend us your aid," one of the guards said as they brought over several stretchers with four soldiers lying on them, severely injured.


    One of them was even close to being gutted, with blood gushing non-stop and a deathly paleplexion. The injuries of these soldiers, clearly caused by ded weapons, were evident at first nce.


    "Guanyin Mantra," seeing the soldier with the most serious injuries, Jiang Liu quickly applied the Guanyin Mantra skill, improving his condition slightly; then he took out a Healing Potion from his bag and poured it down the soldier''s throat to stabilize the injury.


    With thebined treatment, the soldier, who had just a sliver of health left, saw his health bar above his head recover to about 30%.


    Though still gravely injured, there was no immediate danger to his life.


    "Gentlemen, how did youe to be injured like this?" Having temporarily pulled the most badly wounded back from the brink of death, Jiang Liu immediately asked with curiosity.


    "Master, you are unaware. Recently, a group of strong bandits has emerged. They are highly skilled in martial arts. Many of our brothers went to eliminate them but ended up being killed by the bandits, suffering heavy casualties yet again," the leading soldier said with a shake of his head and a sigh.


    "Eh? Are these people in need of help?" Hearing the soldier''s words, Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up slightly.


    Is the trigger for a quest when someone truly needs help and I express my willingness to assist?


    This is a good opportunity to find out.


    "Master, with your healing abilities, could you possibly join us and lend a hand for the people of Wu City?"


    However, before Jiang Liu could offer to help, the leading soldier took the initiative to ask for aid, clearly impressed by Jiang Liu''s Guanyin Mantra healing method.


    Reminder: Quest "Eliminate Harm for the People" triggered. Quest requirements: Eradicate bandits near Wu City. Quest rewards: 14000 Experience Points, Repair Oil (Primary Level); Failure penalty: Deduction of 14000 Experience Points. ept/Decline?

 Chapter 101 Humans Can Turn into Demons

    This sudden task trigger stirred something in Jiang Liu''s heart.


    Although on the surface, it seemed like just a simple task trigger, it revealed a lot of information.


    Firstly, there was a punishment for failure in this task; the previous task to exterminate the demon horde and the escort task had no failure punishment, but this one did, why?


    Fortunately, such tasks with failure punishment were not mandatory, as he was given the choice to ept or reject them.


    The non-mandatory nature of the task eased Jiang Liu''s mind significantly.


    Secondly, based on the two tasks previously triggered, along with his own experimentation, Jiang Liu had deduced that a task would be triggered if someone genuinely needed help and he offered to assist.


    But now, it seemed that tasks could also be triggered if someone asked for his help without him offering first, right?


    This point strangely felt like a d¨¦j¨¤ vu from online games.


    In games, NPCs needed help from yers, which led to tasks, and in Jiang Liu''s reality, people seeking his help also triggered tasks, which seemed reasonable now, didn''t it?


    If someone asked for his help, he could choose to ept or reject, and so the triggered tasks were also optional?


    However, the attachment of a failure punishment to a task, did it ur under such circumstances?


    Could it be that the system silently decreed if he agreed to something, he had to seed no matter what?


    Lastly and most importantly, there was the reward of Experience Points.


    The task of eliminating the demon horde only offered a meager 12,000 Experience Points, yet this task of exterminating bandits awarded a whopping 14,000 Experience Points.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Could these bandits truly be more formidable than the demons of Returning Wind Mountain?


    Clearly, this was impossible.


    So what, then? Seek wealth within danger, is it that because there was a failure penalty, the Experience Points reward was higher?


    ...


    The sudden appearance of this task notification set off thousands of thoughts in Jiang Liu''s heart, leading to many spections as he mulled over them silently. The guard beside him, seeing Jiang Liu''s pensive silence, thought he was reluctant to help. Although disappointed, the guard still bowed with a fist salute, "Master, are you unwilling to ept?


    Forgive my presumption, but regardless, I am still grateful for your intervention."


    "No, you''re mistaken, what I was contemting was simply the caliber of bandits that could be so fearsome. Naturally, I am willing to help," hearing the guard''s words, Jiang Liu came back to his senses and epted the task.


    Naturally, he also took on the task that had been triggered.


    For Jiang Liu, it was just about exterminating some bandits and with Sun Wukong, the super bodyguard, by his side, there was no worry about safety.


    Being able to level up while fighting monsters andpleting tasks was naturally worth the trip.


    It was already getting dark, so after Jiang Liu used the Guanyin Mantra to temporarily stabilize the wounded guards, he discussed the n to head out and dispose of the bandits the next morning before they parted ways for the time being.


    That night, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong found an inn to stay in within the city. Naturally, they had their meal at the inn, where Sun Wukongined that the food was much worse than what Jiang Liu made, but let''s not talk about that...


    The next morning, Jiang Liu met up with the guards at the city gate. Seeing them in armor, armed with weapons, and numbering nearly a hundred, it was apparent that the bandits they were going after were quite powerful.


    "Master, let''s go," there is a certain solemnity thates with a military force on the move. The leading guard greeted Jiang Liu and then headed straight out of the city gates, going westward.


    "May I ask, are the bandits we''re going to exterminate arge and powerful group?" Jiang Liu curiously asked as he watched the nearly hundred-strong military force set out.


    "Aren''t ordinary thieves just groups of a dozen or twenty people?"


    "Master, it isn''t a gang with arge number of strong robbers; there are merely six individuals. However, they are extremely powerful and ruthless," the guard replied upon hearing Jiang Liu''s question.


    "Only six people?" Jiang Liu was taken aback.


    Only six people, yet so many guards mobilized to deal with them?


    "Yes, those thieves are highly skilled in martial arts; they must have reached the Body Tempering Realm," the guard nodded and answered.


    "Six Body Tempering Realm thieves? That''s indeed a considerable force," Jiang Liu nodded upon hearing this.


    Yet, he felt even more puzzled. With such cultivation, why would they resort to thievery?


    The realms of human cultivators, as far as Jiang Liu knew, were divided into Qi Refinement, Meridian Unblocking, Body Tempering, Controlling-Law, Divinity Transformation, and Returning Void¡ªsix major realms. And above those was the Immortal Realm.


    Body Tempering Realm, does that mean they are characters who have surpassed level 20? That''sparable to the Demon Soldier Realm. To have such cultivation, and there are six of them, yet they have chosen to be thieves? This was truly iprehensible.


    Naturally, it was no wonder that these guards were fully prepared, deploying as many as hundreds of men to deal with them.


    "Master, speaking of which, these six thieves are quite strange indeed."


    Next to him, a young guard, roughly fifteen or sixteen, looking about the same age as Jiang Liu and rather talkative, said, "These six banditse and go without a trace; no one knows where their hideout is. It''s said that sometimes, when you are in an endlessly open area, these six bandits just pop out from the ground all of a sudden, without any warning."


    As he said this, the young fellow paused before continuing, "What''s most strange is that these six operate in a fixed area. No matter how many times we go to eradicate them, they show no intention of leaving. They don''t seem to be afraid of us at all. That''s the most infuriating part. That''s why this time so many have been dispatched, determined to obliterate these thieves once and for all."


    "It seems these thieves are indeed very odd," Jiang Liu nodded slightly.


    What thieves would not flee after being pursued by the government office multiple times?


    "Tsk..." Sun Wukong, who had been silent at the side, suddenly spoke up upon hearing the guard''s words, "From what you''re saying, these six might not even be human."


    "Not human? Could they be demon creatures?" The guard asked in surprise at Sun Wukong''s remark.


    Although somewhat strange, those six thieves clearly acted like humans and bore human appearances.


    "Wukong, do you know something?" Jiang Liu also looked at Sun Wukong in surprise. "As far as I know, if a demon creature transforms into a human shape, that would mean they are at the Demon King Realm, wouldn''t it? Could it be, you mean those six thieves are at the level of Demon Kings?"


    Six Demon Kingsing together to be thieves? That seemed utterly imusible, didn''t it?


    "Well, that''s not it. Master, you don''t understand. For the Demon n to transform into a Taoist Body, indeed they need to be at the Demon King Realm. But everything under heaven, from fish and insects to beasts, and even mountains and trees, can be demons¡ªwhy not humans? Like the Corpse Demons formed from dead human bodies, or demons born from the grudges of dying humans..."


    "White Bone Demon!" As Sun Wukong spoke, Jiang Liu instinctively thought of the White Bone Demon.


    As he recalled, the White Bone Demon was actually a human woman who, after death, had her grievances bound to her skeleton, transforming into a demon creature, right?


    "Eh? That makes some sense. The names of those six thieves are indeed odd, not like human names," remarked the guard, having an epiphany.


    "Oh? What are the names of those six thieves?"


    "They are called Eye-Seeing Joy, Ear-Hearing Fury, Nose-Smelling Love, Tongue-Tasting Thought, Opinion Desire, Body-Originated Sadness."


    Jiang Liu: "..."

 Chapter 102 Little White Dragon: Im Really Too Clever

    Serpent Coiling Mountain Eagle Sorrow Gully.


    A White Dragon''s majority of its body was submerged underwater, exposing only an asional scale or w, its dragon might extraordinary.


    A huge dragon head rose above the water, its pupils constricting, its expression dazed.


    In front of the Little White Dragon, this Frog Demon felt as though the air itself had solidified, trembling inwardly, panic-stricken.


    "What did you say? The Scripture Seeker didn''t believe what you told him?" the White Dragon asked after a moment of silence.


    "Yes, it''s true. I told him you were waiting for him in Eagle Sorrow Gully, willing to transform into a white horse and carry him on the Journey to the West. But, he said I was deceiving him," stammering with fear, the Frog Demon nodded repeatedly.


    "Then, did you not tell him I was enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin?" the White Dragon''s tone rose by two notches.


    "I did, but the Holy Monk still didn''t believe me. If I hadn''t run fast, I might have been beaten to death," the Frog Demon nodded hastily, almost crying when recalling the first encounter with Jiang Liu and hispanions.


    Upon first meeting, the Holy Monk and the Great Sage had rushed to attack, and all he did was deliver a message, which nearly cost him his life.


    "What should be done about this..." Hearing the Frog Demon''s tale, the White Dragon twisted its body, causing tumultuous waves in Eagle Sorrow Gully, muttering softly to itself.


    Having been enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin, it had joyfully awaited the arrival of the Scripture Seeker, only to have its expectations turned to the current dismal situation.


    However, fortunately, Jiang Liu only pretended not to believe the Frog Demon''s words, so the Little White Dragon was unaware that Jiang Liu had intentionally dismissed it.


    Thinking that Jiang Liu had already detoured to the southeast, and if it didn''t take action, he would truly bypass Eagle Sorrow Gully and leave, the Little White Dragon decided after some contemtion to go find the Scripture Seeker in person and rify its identity.


    Although it had been imprisoned in Eagle Sorrow Gully by the Jade Emperor, since it was enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin, its hardship was presumably resolved.


    With a thought, it no longer cared for the consequences. The Little White Dragon emitted a loud dragon roar, soaring out of Eagle Sorrow Gully, heading in the southeast direction.


    As the White Dragon took flight, clouds and rain followed in the sky...


    ...


    Let us leave aside for the moment the situation at Eagle Sorrow Gully. Elsewhere, Jiang Liu, along with the guards from Wu City, set out and reached the area where a group of six thieves operated.


    Since their of the six thieves was not known, appearing as if out of thin air, these guards were merely searching within the area where the thieves had been active.


    However, fortunately, without wasting much time, the guards split into three squads, and after a brief search, they quickly found traces of the thieves.


    Hearing shouts in the distance, Jiang Liu, who was with one of the search parties, hurried toward the direction of themotion.


    Indeed, several fierce bandits were seen shing with the guards, their attacks were sharp and powerful, leaving several guards lying on the ground injured.


    Jiang Liu saw clearly that a guard struck with his knife, but one of the thieves raised their arm to block the blow, resulting in only a superficial cut on their skin.


    "Is this a sign of Body Tempering Realm cultivation level?" Seeing the thief''s bodily defense ability, Jiang Liu was inwardly shocked.


    Guanyin Mantra!


    Knowing his job, Jiang Liu raised his hand and a healing Guanyin Mantranded on the most seriously wounded guard, significantly restoring his Health Points.


    At the same time, he raised his palm andunched a Taoist Magic Swift Fire Bead at the opponents.


    The fireball exploded directly on one of the thieves, and under the double damage enhancement of the Redwood Ring, his health bar plummeted drastically.


    Although Jiang Liu''s level was lower than these thieves, the boost from his full set of equipment plus the destructive power of his skills still caused considerable damage to these targets only a few levels higher than himself.


    "What a skilled Mage!" Seeing Jiang Liu''s Swift Fire Bead''s Taoist Magic st one of the thieves into a charred state, the leader of the guards next to him expressed both shock and delight.


    Originally, they thought Jiang Liu was only proficient in healing, but surprisingly, he also possessed such demon-subduing divine skills.


    Sun Wukong, who was on the side, watched eagerly. These were just little demons formed from human resentment, and yet they were causing so much trouble. If I, Old Sun, made a move, one strike per demon, it would be a breeze.


    However, Sun Wukong had been squeezed by Jiang Liu before, who imed he bullies the weak and fears the strong, so Sun Wukong refrained from taking action.


    Still, Sun Wukong''s gaze lingered on Jiang Liu, and he wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that in just around a month or so, Jiang Liu''s cultivation level seemed to have increased a lot.


    Hint: You have gained 2360 Experience Points and 120 gold.


    Hint: You have gained 2500 Experience Points and 125 gold.


    Although the strength of these six thieves was indeed notable, Jiang Liu''s prowess was equally impressive, and with the help of the guards nearby, they gained the upper hand. After a brief fight, two of the thieves were killed, their bodies turning into light smoke and disappearing, proving they were indeed demon creatures, not living humans.


    "A thief yields over 2000 Experience Points, so six would give me around 10000 Experience Points, right? Plus the reward forpleting the task, this loot isn''t too shabby," thought Jiang Liu to himself, quite satisfied after ying two thieves in session.


    More importantly, the levels of those guards were not high, and in the state of fighting together, as if in a team-battle scenario, the loot that burst forth was likely automatically picked up into the bag space.


    However, at this moment, suddenly the sound of dragon chanting resounded from the sky, apanied by clouds and rain, instantly drawing everyone''s attention.


    In the midst of the dark clouds, they could see apletely white dragon tumbling in the sea of clouds.


    "A dragon!?" Seeing the dragon appearing in the sky, the guards were astounded, as it was naturally the first time for these ordinary people to witness a living dragon.


    "A White Dragon? Could this be..." But as Jiang Liu watched the sudden appearance of the dragon, his heart sank slightly.


    Under Jiang Liu''s gaze, the White Dragon dived down, its mouth opened wide, exhaling a burst of Dragon Fire and instantly turning two of the closer-standing thieves into ash.


    At the same time, its Dragon w grabbed one of the thieves and its mouth picked up thest thief, flying high into the sky, and in the blink of an eye, thest two thieves were also killed.


    Hint: You have gained 350 Experience Points.


    Hint: You have gained 260 Experience Points.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hint: You have gained 10 Experience Points.


    ...


    The continual system hints made Jiang Liu''s face darken slightly; he had been monster-killed again, hadn''t he?


    The White Dragon, who danced in the sky and struck down thest four thieves as swiftly as a thunderbolt, transformed into a young man in a white robe andnded in front of Jiang Liu, kneeling on one knee and saying loudly, "Little Dragon Aolie, pays respect to Master".


    Kneeling on one knee before Jiang Liu, Aolie felt he was truly clever, making a grand entrance by helping his master take care of several enemies; surely, his master would be very pleased?


    He believed he had certainly made a good first impression.

 Chapter 103 Hell Definitely Be Moved by How Fast I Run, Right?

    Little White Dragon knelt on one knee, feeling very pleased with his own cleverness. He had made quite the entrance, ying several demon creatures for the Scripture Seeker. After all, you don''t hit a smiling face, so the Scripture Seeker should have a good impression of him.


    Then, by revealing his identity, he would surely be a member of the Journey to the West Pilgrimage Team. All he had to do was reach the Western Spirit Mountain, and his merits would beplete.


    For him, the path of the Journey to the West was essentially a road to sess...


    In Little White Dragon''s heart, he fantasized about the ennobling ceremony awaiting him at Spirit Mountain. However, Jiang Liu''s face was dark as he looked at him.


    A good first impression? You must be kidding. If it hadn''t been for the fact that he couldn''t defeat him, Jiang Liu would have really liked to beat him up right then to vent his frustration.


    The White Dragon Horse was so eager to seek the Western Scriptures, he must be a staunch supporter of this westward endeavor, clearly aiming for the ennoblement by the Western Heaven, which was almost theplete opposite of Jiang Liu''s goal. Therefore, Jiang Liu hadn''t wanted to ept him from the start.


    If he could leave him behind and go on foot to the Western Heaven, that would be perfect.


    But now, to his dismay, the White Dragon had actually taken it upon himself to catch up.


    It would have been fine if he had just caught up, but the remaining evil demons could have been in by Jiang Liu himself, earning him Experience Points. Who would have thought that the White Dragon Horse would take action and quickly finish them off?


    Was he being kill-stolen?


    "Ahem, your name is Aolie, right? Why do you call me master? What virtues or abilities do I possess to deserve to be your master?", after a moment of silence, Jiang Liu, with a darkened face, finally spoke.


    Kneeling on one knee, Little White Dragon raised his head to look at Jiang Liu and was puzzled to see his gloomy expression.


    But he honestly replied, "Reporting to master, due to some errors Imitted, I was detained by the Jade Emperor in Eagle Sorrow Stream to be punished. Fortunately, thepassionate Bodhisattva enlightened me, allowing me to follow master on the quest for scriptures to the Western Heaven, transforming into the Dragon Horse to serve as your mount.


    Therefore, I havee to join you of my own ord, and I hope the master can see the truth."


    As expected of a Crown Prince from the Dragon n, his speech was coherent and impable, leaving an impression of a dignified presence.


    The guards of Wu City beside them looked at each other in dismay, stealing nces at Little White Dragon and Jiang Liu, feeling that Master Xuanzang''s status seemed far more daunting than they had ever imagined.


    A White Dragoning forth voluntarily, willing to transform into the Dragon Horse to be ridden, and even influenced by the Bodhisattva''s guidance?


    Just who exactly is this Master Xuanzang?


    It seemed like they had overheard an incredible conversation.


    "Oh, the humble monk thanks you for your kind intentions. However, I have made a vow that on my way to the Western Heaven, I shall walk step by step, worship at every temple, sweep every pagoda, and personally reach Spirit Mountain to truly express my devotion to Buddha. Please go back," after hearing Little White Dragon''s words, Jiang Liu waved his hand and outright rejected him.


    As Jiang Liu finished speaking, he turned away without giving Little White Dragon any further attention and greeted Sun Wukong and the guards to head back to Wu City together.


    With Little White Dragon''s intervention, the task of ''Removing the Six Bandits'' was consideredplete, but with the Experience Points stolen, Jiang Liu felt somewhat displeased.


    Reminder: Completed the task ''Eliminating Havoc for the People'', gained 14000 Experience Points, and received Repair Oil (Primary).


    Thankfully, the system''s prompt appeared quickly, the Experience Points were credited, and the rewarded item automatically appeared in the inventory, which made Jiang Liu feel much better.


    Upon opening the inventory interface, indeed, there was a new small grey-ck bottle, and as Jiang Liu''s gazended on it, the Attribute Information for the bottle also emerged.


    Repair Oil (Primary): Consumable, a magical substance refined by a master cksmith, apply it on equipment to restore 10 points of Durability.


    "What a wonderful item!" Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up upon seeing the attribute information of the repair oil, and he was inwardly delighted.


    Equipment would wear out with continuous use, and its durability would steadily decline. Without a Life Profession of his own, there was nothing he could do but watch the durability decrease bit by bit.


    For instance, the Bodhi Ring had shattered due to exhaustion of its durability.


    The durability of the Legendary Level shing Brilliance Shoes was indeed low, and he had been fretting about it. Then this little bottle of repair oil appeared as if it was an answer to his urgent need.


    "Eh? Master, didn''t we send that old man on his way? Why are we going back?" Sun Wukong, walking beside Jiang Liu, tilted his head and asked in confusion.


    Sun Wukong''s words drew Jiang Liu''s attention away from the repair oil. He nced at him and said with a righteous expression, "Wukong, didn''t I say that I would set up a stall in Wu City to heal the people''s injuries? How can we simply hit the road when these matters aren''t settled yet? I am a man who keeps his word."


    "Hmm, I do quite like that about you, Master¡­" Sun Wukong grinned, showing his teeth.


    Perhaps because he felt deceived by the flip-flopping words of Tathagata before, Sun Wukong found Jiang Liu''smitment to his word especially likable.


    But, just mentioning this, the monkey subtly jerked his chin toward the back and said, "Master, are you really going to leave Little White Dragon behind? With him, couldn''t we reach the Western Heaven sooner?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Sun Wukong was naturally impatient. He had originallye out of the Five Elements Mountain to join Jiang Liu in upsetting heavens and deities. Buttely, Jiang Liu had been stopping and starting, dilly-dallying, which made Sun Wukong feel anxious.


    "Monkey, theter we reach Western Heaven, the higher my Cultivation Level will be," Jiang Liu turned his head to look at the impatient Sun Wukong and reminded him.


    These words added a contemtive look between Sun Wukong''s brows.


    It seemed that what the master said made sense, right?


    Jiang Liu andpany headed back to Wu City, their figures growing more distant, and as for Little White Dragon, he knelt on one knee on the ground, looking rather dumbfounded.


    Had the Scripture Seeker just refused him? And without a second thought at that?


    This was not at all what he had expected.


    If it had been any ordinary matter, Aolie could wave it off with indifference. Why bother chasing after rejection? He would have left already.


    However, the Journey to the West for Scriptures wasn''t just about his own future.


    Watching Jiang Liu''s party moving further away, Aolie fell into silence for a moment before clenching his teeth, temporarily setting aside his pride. In a sh, he transformed into a white horse and, like a swift whirlwind of white, he chased after Jiang Liu.


    Little White Dragon had made up his mind¡ªeven if it meant being shamelessly persistent, he was determined to join the Journey to the West.


    With a thought, his hooves flew, and he sped past Jiang Liu and the rest, vanishing into the horizon.


    Then, in the blink of an eye, the white horse, as fast as lightning, returned, racing like the wind.


    "So fast!" The guards of Wu City, witnessing the speed of the White Dragon Horse, were all dumbstruck with amazement.


    This praise from the guards filled the White Dragon Horse with inward joy, while he also awaited Jiang Liu''s change of heart.


    Seeing how fast he runs, could he possibly remain unmoved?

 Chapter 104 Restless Mind鈥?andering Thoughts

    Aolie, originally the third Crown Prince of the Western Sea Dragon Pce, was extraordinarily talented and naturally possessed unparalleled arrogance. As a prince of the Dragon n, one of the Four Seas, he was full of spirit before his banishment to Eagle Sorrow Stream.


    Unfortunately, now he was under the eaves and had no choice but to bow his head.


    It was precisely because he was born in the Dragon Pce that Aolie understood how difficult it was to rise within the system of Immortals and Buddhas, and this Journey to the West could be seen as a great fortuity arising from misfortune.


    Thus, even if it meant swallowing his pride, like a piece of dog, err, sticking ster, he adhered to the Scripture Seeker, shamelessly determined to mix in all the way to the Western Heaven.


    He had disyed his unmatched swiftness in running. In the Little White Dragon''s view, the Scripture Seeker ought to have had a change of heart by now, right?


    Yet, to his astonishment, the Scripture Seeker remained unmoved, seemingly oblivious to his lightning-fast running speed.


    Running back and forth like a frolicking dog, the Scripture Seekerpletely ignored him as if he were thin air, which was somewhat unbearable to Aolie. Several thoughts crossed his mind: Should I stop serving such a difficult person and just leave?


    But then thinking of the consequences of leaving, he might have to spend his life suppressed under Eagle Sorrow Stream as punishment. If he could sessfully join the Scripture Seeking Team, on the other hand, there would be a broad and smooth road ahead. Even a fool would know how to choose whenparing the two.


    Therefore, just as the thought of giving up sprang to his mind, it was quickly suppressed by the Little White Dragon.


    Good thingse to those who wait, right? Wanting to achieve a Golden Body and True Fruition, what''s a little loss of face?


    Moreover, the thing he wanted to do could only be achieved by sessfully arriving at Spirit Mountain and receiving his title!


    What Aolie was thinking, Jiang Liu naturally didn''t have the inclination to concern himself with; he clearly saw the White Dragon Horse''s speed that was as fast as lightning.


    Watching such speed, Jiang Liu''s mouth twitched slightly, and his heart was even more resistant¡­


    Upon reaching Wu City, Jiang Liu naturally returned to his stall, carrying on with his work of healing the people of the world, offering treatments free of charge to every injuredmoner.


    The Guanyin Mantra fell one after another, and the progress of his second round of the ressing mission advanced steadily.


    Notice: Missionpletion 88/200


    Notice: Missionpletion 92/200


    Notice: Missionpletion 99/200.


    ...


    Because he exhibited twelve Scar of Precepts, it caused a significant celebrity effect. Along with the immediate effect of the Guanyin Mantra, nearly all minor bruises and injuries were healed with just one recitation, which also provoked a great response.


    Therefore, manymoners in Wu City were almost queueing up for Jiang Liu''s treatments.


    With the Guanyin Mantra''s cooldown time of 600 seconds, it could be cast six times an hour. From the look of this progress, it wouldn''t take too much time toplete the second part of his ressing mission.


    In front of the stall, Jiang Liu''s mind was focused on the injuredmoners, treating them with enthusiasm, while beside him, Sun Wukongy on a nk of wood, legs crossed, a tree branch dangling from his mouth, the epitome of boredom.


    Next to him, the White Dragon Horse also stood quietly, patiently waiting for Jiang Liu to finish his work.


    Although it did not understand why Jiang Liu would choose to treat themoners here rather than continue seeking the scriptures, it did not dare to ask more questions.


    Since the Scripture Seeker treated him as if he were as inconspicuous as air, he decided to follow along with a thick face.


    "Hey, you''re the Little White Dragon called Aolie, aren''t you?" Perhaps because Sun Wukong was bored, he suddenly struck up a conversation with the White Dragon Horse beside him.


    "Yes, Great Saint, my name is Aolie," the White Dragon Horse hurriedly replied upon hearing Sun Wukong''s words.


    Not to mention that he was already a member of the Scripture Seeking Team and needed to establish a good rtionship with him, but given his past identity as the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, that held a lot of weight.


    "Surname Ao, eh? As I know, only the Dragon Kings of the four seas have the surname Ao," Sun Wukong continued after receiving Little White Dragon''s reply.


    "Yes, the Little Dragon is indeed the third Crown Prince of the Western Sea Dragon King. When Great Sage visited the Eastern Sea to borrow weapons, my royal father also gifted Great Sage a Phoenix-Wing Purple Gold Crown," the White Dragon Horse eagerly offered, seeing that Sun Wukong was willing to chat with him, aiming to draw a bit closer in their rtionship.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Oh, I remember now. The Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea was indeed a bit stingy. I merely took the Sea Calming Needle, yet when I wanted to ask for armor, it turns out that the Golden Chainmail, Phoenix-Wing Purple Gold Crown, and Lotus Fment Step-on-Cloud Shoes were all cobbled together by his three brothers."


    Thinking back to when he went to the Eastern Sea to retrieve the Sea Calming Needle, Sun Wukong couldn''t help but grumble about it.


    The Dragon King of Eastern Sea was indeed wealthy, and it''s true that the Dragon n loves to collect treasures, but, ultimately, they were a bit too stingy.


    "However, back then, receiving a Phoenix-Wing Purple Gold Crown from your Western Sea did add to your poprity. Not bad, not bad at all."


    "It was just a Phoenix-Wing Purple Gold Crown. If you, Great Sage, like it, I am willing to acquire a few more treasures for you," the White Dragon Horse said, following Sun Wukong''s remark.


    However, at this point, he paused briefly before adding, "It''s just that back then, Great Sage, you had newlypleted your training and had no treasures with you, but now you are renowned throughout the Three Realms, with an illustrious name. I imagine some of the treasures of our Dragon n probably won''t catch your eye.


    Five hundred years ago, Great Sage, your grace and power truly shook the Three Realms and Six Paths. I, Little Dragon, have always admired you."


    "Hehehe, you Little White Dragon, you do have some insight, but don''t go on praising me too much. Saying too much can seem tacky," Sun Wukong said with a snicker, his eyes crinkling into smiles. He sat up straight and, while clearly overjoyed, almost ready to do a couple of somersaults, he still spoke with reserve.


    After a short pause, Sun Wukong spoke seriously, "Such praise, let''s keep it to no more than ten times a day, uh, make it twenty."


    The White Dragon Horse at his side, upon hearing this, was momentarily stunned. His horse face twitched slightly, then he nodded and said, "Understood, Great Sage."


    "Alright, enough with calling me Great Sage. Call me ''Eldest Brother'' instead. Since you were enlightened by Guanyin, you will eventually join us on our journey," Sun Wukong said, patting the White Dragon Horse''s head. Though he was short and thin, he carried theposure of a big brother.


    "Really!? Thank you, Eldest Brother!" Although Sun Wukong couldn''t decide whether he would stay or go, by saying those words, he had at least epted him, which overjoyed the White Dragon Horse.


    Jiang Liu was waiting for the Cooldown Time of the Guanyin Mantra skill when he nced over.


    He naturally heard the conversation between Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse, which urred right beside him, without any intent of avoiding him.


    Looking at Sun Wukong swinging his tail behind his butt, Jiang Liu''s face turned a shade darker. Was Sun Wukong eager to keep the White Dragon Horse close just to listen to his own praises, or was it again to hear praises of himself?


    Seeing how Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse were getting along so well, Jiang Liu shook his head helplessly, "Mind like a wild monkey, heart like a runaway horse. Isn''t that phrase just right? This monkey and horse seem to be getting on like a house on fire."


    "By the way, Eldest Brother, I have a question. Master didn''t want to take me in. How did you manage to get him to agree to take you on?"


    Having a pleasant conversation, the White Dragon Horse casually asked Sun Wukong, curious.

 Chapter 105 The Last Phase of the Job Change Quest

    Aolie looked at Sun Wukong curiously, not just on the surface, but truly intrigued in his heart.


    Having been enlightened by Guanyin to be the Scripture Seeker''s steed, transformed into the White Dragon Horse to carry him on the Journey to the West, Yet, the Scripture Seeker simply refused to ept him. Despite his persistence, he could not get a nod of agreement. So how had Sun Wukong managed to do it?


    He wanted to listen and see if there was anything to learn from him, to see if there was any reference value in Sun Wukong''s methods.


    After all, both he and Sun Wukong had been enlightened by the Bodhisattva and were to follow the Scripture Seeker to the Western Heaven. Theoretically, they should be quite simr, right?


    "Ah?", upon hearing the White Dragon Horse''s words, Sun Wukong opened his mouth, an odd look on his face.


    "What''s the matter, Eldest Brother? Is there some secret unknown to others, something you can''t speak of?", noticing the change in Sun Wukong''s demeanor, the White Dragon Horse asked quietly.


    His attitude was very considerate. If there was some secret unknown to others, then he would not press further.


    "No, actually, how should I put it? I, Old Sun, didn''t want to go seek the scriptures in the Western Heaven. It was Master himself begging me to go¡­", Sun Wukong shook his head, then revealed the truth.


    White Dragon Horse: "...".


    "Back then, I, Old Sun, kept saying no, but he kept persuading me patiently day after day, even making meals for me every day. In the end, there was no other way. After all, being suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain was just that, so I decided toe out and have a look."


    Sun Wukong, unable to speak of his secret agreement with Jiang Liu about overturning the Heavenly Deities and Buddhas, made a helpless gesture.


    "Eldest Brother, stop talking...", every word from Sun Wukong was like a needle piercing into the White Dragon Horse''s heart, and he then realized why Sun Wukong''s gaze had seemed so strange.


    So it turns out everyone was brought here by the Bodhisattva''s enlightenment, but the treatment waspletely different?


    Bowing his head, the White Dragon Horse fell silent, his expression downcast, clearly stung by Sun Wukong''s words.


    He tried desperately to join while the Scripture Seeker didn''t want him, yet Sun Wukong desperately tried to refuse but ended up being the one whom the Scripture Seeker eagerly begged to join?


    ¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As for how the White Dragon Horse was feeling, Jiang Liu naturally did not pay attention; his mind was entirely focused on healing.


    After staying in Wu City for three days, by the afternoon of the third day, thest person with a broken leg was brought before Jiang Liu. A Guanyin Mantra was cast, which significantly healed the man''s injuries.


    Notice: Current missionpletion: 200/200.


    "All right, everyone, today is this monk''sst day here. Our paths have crossed, and now they diverge as I must continue my Journey to the West. May we have the chance to meet again..."


    With another Guanyin Mantra, Jiang Liu gave the viger diligent instructions to rest well, then he spoke aloud.


    In front of the stall, there were still a dozen people lined up waiting for healing. Although Jiang Liu wanted to bring things to a proper conclusion, every minute and second was a race against time for his own life, and he dared not waste it on others. After apologizing, he turned decisively to leave.


    Seeing Jiang Liu striding away, while some vigers wanted to follow, Jiang Liu was prepared for this moment. Guards from Wu City appeared and prevented the vigers from pursuing him.


    "Many thanks to all of you," at the gate of Wu City, Jiang Liu brought his hands together and thanked the leading guard.


    "What are you saying, Master? If it weren''t for your help that day, our brothers would have suffered heavy casualties. This little help from us is nothing," said the guard from Wu City, a mix of respect and fear in his voice as he hurriedly returned the gesture.


    Without any intention of making idle chitchat, Jiang Liu said his farewells to the guards of Wu City and continued on the Journey to the West, apanied by Sun Wukong.


    As for the White Dragon Horse? There was no need to summon it. It would shamelessly stick to them, unable to be shooed away and unbeatable in a fight, so Jiang Liu pretended not to notice it.


    After all, he couldn''t really let Sun Wukong strike and kill it, right?


    With that thought, Jiang Liu nced over and saw Sun Wukong sitting on the White Dragon Horse, grinning as they chatted¡ªthe monkey and the horse seemed quite at ease.


    The White Dragon Horse, with its pleasant speech and free ttery, had Sun Wukong thoroughly enjoying himself, asionally even doing a couple of somersaults on the horse''s back.


    "That''s it then, seems like the pleasure of buttering up the monkey has been stolen," Jiang Liu inwardly sighed with resignation. Before, it had always been him sweet-talking the monkey, but now the White Dragon Horse seemed to have formed a strong bond with Sun Wukong.


    "Well done, good show, Little Monk," called out a woodcutter walking by the roadside, who thought the somersaults performed by Sun Wukong on the back of the White Dragon Horse were meant for his entertainment, loudly apuding and, in the midst of talking, tossed out two copper coins.


    "Thank you, Benefactor!" Jiang Liu bent down to pick up the two copper coins, epting the kind gesture.


    However, looking at the copper coins in his hand, then at the monkey and the horse beside him, it seemed he had be like a circus performer, a monkey handler, hadn''t he?


    Shaking his head, Jiang Liu brushed away the jumbled thoughts in his mind, pocketed the two copper coins, and silently invoked in his heart, "Mission List."


    As Jiang Liu silently called it up, the Mission List opened directly. Inside the list was a single, lone mission¡ªthe second phase of the upation-changing task wasplete, and now, only thest phase remained.


    As Jiang Liu''s gaze settled on it, the specific details of the upation-changing mission appeared before him.


    upation-changing Mission (3/3): Requirement, solo kill a creature at least 10 levels higher than oneself. Uponpletion, reward with one opportunity to change upation.


    Looking at this final phase of the upation-changing mission, Jiang Liu''s expression became somewhat strange; he found thisst step of the mission unreasonable.


    The Monk upation is entirely a support type, right? Although he had means ofbat, skills like Arhat Fist and Swift Fire Bead were not Monk skills; Monk skills were all about buffs and control.


    Yet, this upation-changing mission actually required him to fight? And even had to bepleted solo? Moreover, thebat target had to surpass his own level by 10?


    If it were any ordinary Monk Professional, how would theyplete such a task? Wasn''t this setting someone up for failure?


    Fortunately, he was lucky to havebat skills and strong equipment for support.


    Targets surpassing my level by more than 10? That would be level 30 or above, wouldn''t it?


    Level 0 and above are Demons, level 10 and above are Demon Soldiers...


    "Hmm, this task wants me to defeat a Demon General alone? Indeed, it''s difficult, but not without hope of sess," he murmured to himself, nodding after a moment of contemtion.


    No need to mention the Vidyaraja Crown and shing Brilliance Shoes for self-preservation, being apanied by Sun Wukong and having the Brocade Kasaya, he was already unbeatable, nothing to fear.


    However, thinking of the existence at the Demon General Level, Jiang Liu''s mind reflexively recalled the day when Jinshan Temple was attacked by the Three-Eyed Crow Demon General.


    Back then, with all his methods, he could not possibly have defeated it, especially with the strange Spells the Demon General had used¡ªits strength was truly formidable.


    Yet, times had changed, and his strength was no longer what it had been...

 Chapter 106 Waiting for the Strange Visitor

    Regarding the choice to change his profession, Jiang Liu felt some hesitation. The two avable professions, Compassionate Bodhisattva and Immovable Ming King, had different attributes: the former was more support-oriented, and thetter morebat-focused.


    Back when he was still at Jinshan Temple, considering his future profession change, Jiang Liu wanted to be an Immovable Ming King. After all, this was the real world, and possessing great strength was necessary.


    He surely couldn''t always rely on others, hiding in the back and casting a few healing and buff skills, right?


    But what if he eventually had no teammates?


    Now, however, Jiang Liu''s thoughts had shifted. Considering his current situation, it seemed that changing into a Compassionate Bodhisattva might be quite good?


    His biggest concern before was theck of his attack power, which is why he wanted to be an Immovable Ming King. But now, Jiang Liu realized that in the world of Journey to the West, he could learn the original spells and divine skills using Skill Points. Moreover, he had the special equipment, the Skill Bookcase, which allowed learning three skills from other professions.


    Given that he wouldn''tck ways to fight in the future, he thought that overall, the Compassionate Bodhisattva seemed more suitable.


    After all, what would his final battle be like? It would be fighting against the myriad heavenly deities and buddhas, perhaps even facing hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands at once.


    Therefore, in arge-scale battle, control skills, buffs, and healing abilities could significantly extend the endurance of the war effort. All his preparations had to be for the final battle at Spirit Mountain.


    While pondering over the matter of changing professions, he traveled onwards, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.


    During these days, the journey went very smoothly, and he didn''t encounter any powerful demon creatures. At most there were a few highwaymen or wild beasts like tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves, which Jiang Liu could easily eliminate with a single cast of the Taoist Swift Fire Bead spell.


    Thus, these days, Jiang Liu''s acquisition of Experience Points was mainly through cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound method.


    Since reaching level 20, Jiang Liu secretly calcted that in the past days, he had umted over a hundred thousand Experience Points; however, he still had not advanced to level 21.


    He wasn''t sure if it was because the Experience Points were insufficient or if the experience got stuck due to an iplete profession change task.


    The goal of the profession change task was to single-handedly y a level 30 or above Demon General. Having not encountered any demons these days, naturally, this final task for the profession change was left iplete.


    On this day, after having dinner with Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu didn''t seem inclined to continue their Journey to the West. As dusk approached, they stopped to rest again.


    However, in the middle of the night, the sudden howling of wolves erupted, echoing from all around, growing closer and louder from every direction.


    Hearing this sound, Jiang Liu naturally awoke from his meditative cultivation, clutching his Green Lotus Staff as he stood up.


    The White Dragon Horse, sensing the pack of wolves and wanting to prove its worth by dealing with them, was about to take action. But suddenly, Sun Wukong grabbed its leg.


    "Big brother?" With Sun Wukong still lying down nonchntly, appearing indifferent, the White Dragon Horse was taken aback.


    "Don''t worry, they''re just little demons. The master can handle it. If you help out, it would actually displease him," Sun Wukong said, lying on his back with his legs crossed, seeming utterly unconcerned.


    "Ah? If we take care of some little demons, master would be displeased?" Hearing Sun Wukong''s words, the White Dragon Horse was surprised.


    At the same time, he remembered the day when he first met his master. In an attempt to impress and create a good impression, he had volunteered to deal with a few Little Demons transformed by resentment. His master''s face had turned somewhat dark, and he looked displeased. Back then, he had found it odd, but now, he seemed to understand what was going on.


    "Big brother, our master, he seems to have some odd quirks, doesn''t he? Apart from this, are there any others? Can you tell me about them..." It''s no wonder the master had always refused to ept him. The original impression had been very bad indeed, White Dragon Horse said with a strange tone, while quietly speaking to Sun Wukong.


    There was no other choice. From the first meeting, White Dragon Horse could tell that Jiang Liu was somewhat distant towards him, which was why he had always refused to ept him. He had to resort to a more indirect approach, starting by building a good rtionship with Sun Wukong.


    Now that he had established a good rapport with Sun Wukong, it was naturally time to learn more about the master''s temperament from him...


    ...


    Putting aside Sun Wukong and White Dragon Horse, who were whispering about something on the side, Jiang Liu had already stood up by now, holding the Green Lotus Staff, staring at the pairs of wolf eyes in the night. He was surrounded by dozens of wolves, yet his expression remained unchanged.


    To Jiang Liu, these wolves were simply delivering Experience Points.


    Wielding the Green Lotus Staff, Jiang Liu did not retreat but advanced towards the wolf pack. Swinging the staff, hended a precise hit on one of the wolves, which let out a piteous cry as its Health Bar instantly emptied, and it passed out.


    Prompt: Gained 15 Experience Points, gained 3 money.


    Almost at the same time, the system notification arrived as expected. The Experience Points weren''t much, as it was just a normal pack of wolves, and thus nothing to concern oneself with.


    As for dodging? With the 400-point Defense of the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe, the 800-plus of the Vidyaraja Crown, and the 460 of the shing Brilliance Shoes, just these three pieces of Equipment alone added over 1600 Defense. Even if he stood still, these wolves wouldn''t even dream of breaking through Jiang Liu''s Defense.


    Because it was an active attack and not a passive counterattack, the wolves'' Health Bars emptied without them dying; they were merely knocked unconscious, and Jiang Liu had no intention of killing them.


    A mere few dozen wolves, with only two leading wolves capable of speaking humannguage, there was absolutely no suspense. In a short while, Jiang Liu had knocked them all unconscious.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "These wolf packs seem to be just patrolling Little Demons or even ordinary wild beasts. I intentionally spared their lives, believing that stronger demons wille knocking. I wonder if there will be any Demon General-level Demon Creatures?"


    After having a trial run by knocking out all these Wolf Demons, Jiang Liu selectively killed a few to anger the others, secretly anticipating the next wave of attacks.


    Farming for Experience Points and levels is much easier if you wait for the monsters toe to you rather than having to go out looking for them, right?


    If there were Demon General Level creatures, that would be ideal, as he had yet toplete his ss advancement quest.


    Byte night, the severely injured and unconscious wolves gradually regained consciousness. Looking around, they saw that Jiang Liu and his party had moved far away. Dragging their injured bodies, the wolves orderly got to their feet and then quickly disappeared into the night.


    The next morning, dozens of miles away, arge wolf with pale fur, as big as a calf, suddenly stood up. "Hmph, a bald monk daring to trespass my Wolf Dwelling Mountain for three hundred miles? For causing so much damage to my descendants, I, the Vanguard Leader, shall see to it personally."


    As soon as he spoke, the pale-furred wolf howled, a breeze coiling around its body as it vanished quickly.


    And with its howl, several upright walking Wolf Demons, echoing the call, also let out long howls before dropping to all fours and following suit...

 Chapter 107 Duel with the Demon General

    One person, one monkey, one horse, they traveled on foot down the road, not too fast, nor too slow, yet their appearance seemed strange.


    Usually, horses are known for their ability to be ridden, and themon sight would be a human riding the horse with the monkey in tow.


    But in reality? The short and skinny monkey was actually seated on the horse''s back, while it was the human who walked on foot.


    If any bystander were to see this, they would surely think it foolish¡ªhe had a perfectly good horse and did not ride it, instead letting the monkey ride.


    "Master, just as you said, a few little demons havee. Do you want me, Old Sun, to deal with them for you?" said Sun Wukong suddenly, speaking from atop the horse.


    "Oh? A few little demons, what is their cultivation level?" Hearing Sun Wukong''s words, Jiang Liu''s eyes lit up slightly, d that demons had finallye knocking since dawn was breaking.


    "Four little wolf demons, all at the Demon Soldier Realm. There''s also a small wolf demon whose cultivation is slightly higher, probably at the Demon General level, who seems capable ofmanding wind spells," although he had not yet seen the demons, Sun Wukong recited their cultivation as if he were reciting treasures in his own home.


    "No need, these few small demons, leave them to your master alone!" Jiang Liu rejoiced upon hearing about the appearance of a Demon General.


    Wasn''t this what he had been waiting for? He could not let Sun Wukong and the others intervene.


    As his voice fell, Jiang Liu took the Green Lotus Staff out of his storage space, gripping it tightly. Secretly nodding to himself about his own equipment, even with the four Demon Soldiers unexpectedly there, it did not upset the big picture.


    The White Dragon Horse next to him, seeing the spark in Jiang Liu''s eyes and him taking out the Green Lotus Staff, quickly bowed its head. Although the Scripture Seeker''s cultivation was very insignificant, his belligerence was astounding.


    Seeing this, the White Dragon Horse understood; when they first met, helping him kill a few demons made him think he was clever, but it turned out to be a smart move leading to a smart mistake.


    Indeed, in just a moment, the five wolf demons arrived. The one leading the pack was especially gigantic, covered in pure white fur that gleamed like satin, without a single stray hair.


    Apanying it was a clear breeze, an obvious sign of being able tomand spells, showing it had reached the realm of a Demon General.


    The four Demon Soldiers standing on their hind legs followed behind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The lead white wolf demon''s eyes were fixed on Jiang Liu, eyeing him carefully, before baring its teeth and licking its lips, "What a fresh and tender monk. Eating him must be very delicious. Since he''se to us, I, the vanguard leader, must feast well today."


    As the words from the white wolf demon came out, the four Demon Soldiers behind it immediately pounced towards Jiang Liu.


    Swift Fire Bead!


    Without wasting words, Jiang Liu pushed his hand forward, and a giant fireball sted towards one of the wolf demons.


    The scorching fireball exploded upon contact with the wolf demon, eliciting a scream as its health bar immediately dropped by about one-third.


    With Starry Sky Spread, Jiang Liu obliterated one-third of that wolf demon''s health bar in a single strike, then pulled off his Sandalwood Buddha Beads and flung them forward.


    The one hundred and eight Buddha Beads formed a fan shape, repelling the remaining three wolf demons.


    At the same time, he stamped his foot and chased after the injured wolf demon, lifting the Green Lotus Staff high and bringing it down fiercely.


    The wolf demon, enduring its injury, raised its w to counterattack. Jiang Liu did not dodge, allowing the w to strike him, feeling a bit of pain, yet the loss of his own health bar was minimal.


    As the Green Lotus Staff struck down, the health bar diminished another segment, and from the exchange of blows, it was clear that Jiang Liu was greatly profiting from the situation.


    Although their levels were roughly equal, Jiang Liu''s attack and defense attributes were much higher than the demon''s due to the enhancement from his skills and equipment.


    Raising his hand, the one hundred and eight Buddha Beads came back together into a string, returning to Jiang Liu''s hand, and he rehung the Sandalwood Buddha Beads around his neck.


    Watching the three Wolf Demons continue their charge, Jiang Liu inhaled deeply and let out a dragon''s roar from his mouth.


    Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound (Level 2): Producing a dragon''s roar that can repel all nearby targets, Attack Power +250, Cooldown Time 300 seconds; in ordinary Cultivation State, gain 2 Experience Points every 10 seconds, to level up, requires level 21.


    The sound waves of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, visible to the naked eye, scattered in all directions, and the four surrounding Wolf Demons were repelled once again, even bleeding from their seven orifices due to the sound waves'' vibration.


    As one of the top Divine Spells of the Great Buddha Temple, even at its second level, its might was extraordinary.


    With the attack of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, all four Demon Soldiers were repelled, each injured, and among them, the Wolf Demon gravely wounded by Jiang Liu was left with hardly any Health Points, nearly a mere sliver of health.


    Phew!


    However, before Jiang Liu could make another move, a sudden whooshing sound arose; it was the pale Wolf King that had been lurking from afar, seeing Jiang Liu''s remarkable strength, decided to intervene.


    A Spell took form, and a gigantic Wind de, slicing directly towards Jiang Liu.


    Yet, with just a light tap of his feet, the shing Brilliance Shoes on Jiang Liu''s feet shed, his figure vanished into thin air, reappearing behind the grievously wounded Wolf Demon.


    The Green Lotus Staff descended with a mighty force, the impact seemingly shattering half of the Wolf Demon''s bones, and the Health Bar emptied in an instant.


    Tip: Gained 1880 Experience Points, acquired 66 money.


    "Good, one is down..." Rising in a sudden attack and breaking them one by one, after downing one, Jiang Liu''s gaze then fell on the other three Wolf Demons.


    When ites to battling monsters, of course you clear the minions first before facing the strongest boss in a one-on-one fight.


    With his Defense, even Demon Soldiers found it hard to inflict substantial damage on Jiang Liu, and after a brief half-minute brawl, Jiang Liu left the other three members of the Demon n gravely injured and unconscious.


    Experience more on empire


    Ding!


    Lifting his hand with the blessing of the Vajra Mantra, Jiang Liu, unable to dodge, took the brunt of the pale Wolf Demon''s Wind de, his Health Bar dropping by a small margin.


    After the fight, having been hit a few times, along with the attack from the pale Wolf Demon, Jiang Liu checked his Health Point status, which was only about 75% left.


    Jiang Liu then cast the Guanyin Mantra skill on himself.


    The mists of life light melded into his body, and the Guanyin Mantra, which initially restored 15% of his health,bined with the recovery skill boost from the Green Lotus Staff, instantly pulled his Health Points back to over 90%.


    Although the injuries weren''t fully healed, they werergely recovered.


    The pale Wolf Demon''s gaze was firmly fixed on Jiang Liu.


    Upon perception, this Little Monk before its eyes hadn''t even reached the Body Tempering Realm, yet could single-handedly kill four Demon Soldiers with higher Cultivation Levels than him, and even withstand its own Spell attacks; surely, he possessed many fine treasures.


    With this thought, the Wolf Demon''s eyes burned with desire as it stared at Jiang Liu.


    "Alright, your turn," after casting the Guanyin Mantra on himself, Jiang Liu''s gaze also settled on the Wolf Demon, equally fiery.


    What kind of loot would drop from defeating a Demon General in singlebat, a battle beyond one''s own level?


    Not only Experience Points and drop rates, but most importantly, his own ss-change quest.

 Chapter 108 Battle to the Death

    Sun Wukong, looking utterly bored, sat atop the White Dragon Horse. The strongest of them was merely at the Demon General level, which in Sun Wukong''s eyes, was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant and not worth his attention.


    However, despite his outward disinterest, Sun Wukong''s gaze remained fixed on Jiang Liu.


    He could clearly sense Jiang Liu''s level of cultivation. With a cultivation level not even reaching the Body Tempering Realm, Jiang Liu had faced four opponents alone and managed to kill four Demon Soldiers. This feat caused Sun Wukong to view him with a bit of respect.


    Although the master''s cultivation level was very low, hisbat skills were indeed quite impressive. Sun Wukong wondered, how would he fare against this Demon General?


    Even though he had promised Jiang Liu to stir up the heavens and overthrow the deities and Buddhas together, Sun Wukong actually looked down on Jiang Liu''s level of cultivation; Jiang Liu was full of ambition, iming that he too would be a powerful figure capable of sweeping away the deities within just a few short years.


    But now, the battle between him and the Demon General had sparked some anticipation in Sun Wukong''s heart.


    "Big Brother, with the support of his Dharma Treasures, the master''s cultivation is enough to defeat the Demon Soldiers, but facing a Demon General seems unlikely, doesn''t it? Are we sure we''re not stepping in?" the White Dragon Horse asked Sun Wukong in a low voice.


    If the Scripture Seeker were to be killed, then his own aspirations for the Western Heaven mandate would be dashed.


    "Don''t worry, he''s not someone who would rashly gamble his life away," Sun Wukong said, patting the horse''s back with an air of casual confidence.


    ...


    Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse''s conversation went unnoticed by Jiang Liu; his mind was entirely focused on the pale Wolf Demon before him.


    Regardless, facing an opponent more than ten levels above himself, Jiang Liu was confident, but he did not dare to be arrogant; he was very clear about the strength of a Demon General.


    Arhat Fist, Demon-Subduing Mantra.


    Without a sound, Jiang Liu fortified himself with two skills to enhance his attack, and under the influence of the Sandalwood Buddha Beads, the effect of these buffs was also somewhat amplified.


    The Wolf Demon, with greedy yet solemn eyes, had witnessed Jiang Liu single-handedly ughter four Demon Soldiers just moments ago. The creature certainly did not dare to underestimate its opponent.


    The Wolf Demon raised its ws, and a blue Wind de began to form in front of its paws.


    Almost simultaneously, Jiang Liu raised his hand and pointed at the Wolf Demon, activating the skill: Silencing Zen!


    The silence-oriented skill instantly dissipated the Wolf Demon''s Wind de, a turn of events that astonished it.


    It was inconceivable that its spell had been rendered ineffective; it was the first time it had encountered such a situation.


    Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Liu lifted his hand, and the Swift Fire Bead''s skill was unleashed. It was another spell-based attack, and a ball of me crashed directly onto the Wolf Demon.


    Visibly, the health bar above the Wolf Demon''s head diminished slightly, by about 5% to be approximate.


    Hisss!


    This scene made Jiang Liu take a sharp intake of breath. The extra attack power from the Green Lotus Staff, the added equipment of two rings, the Demon-Subduing Mantra, the Arhat Fist, and the innately high damage of the Sheep Transformation Technique''s spell...


    All thesebined had only reduced the Wolf Demon''s health bar by a mere 5%?


    Was this truly the prowess of a Demon General? The vast gap between realms couldn''t bepared to that of the lower Demon Soldiers.


    Awooo!


    Having taken a hit from the Swift Fire Bead''s spell, the Wolf Demon''s ferocity was triggered; it howled angrily and charged toward Jiang Liu on all fours, deciding to engage in closebat since it couldn''t use long-range spells.


    The Green Lotus Staff struck the Wolf Demon, and with a thud, its health bar decreased a little, yet it was less than before from the Swift Fire Bead''s skill.


    Such were the properties of a Demon General-level creature; with such a high level, it was hard even to breach its defenses.


    Splish ssh!


    Simrly, the Wolf Demon''s ws scraped across Jiang Liu, causing him severe pain, and he watched as a significant chunk, about 5% or slightly more, disappeared from his own health bar.


    "Good thing, though the Green Lotus Staff is only Perfect Level equipment, the shing Brilliance Shoes and Vidyaraja Crown are Legendary Level defense items, and I also have the Perfect Level Golden Cicada Buddha Robe. My defense attributes are indeed much higher than my attack attributes," Jiang Liu calcted as he watched his health bar diminish.


    Although from the situation, the Wolf Demon''s strength was still stronger than his own, if it came to a blood exchange battle, he definitely would not be a match. However, that did not mean he had no power to fight.


    After a round of blood exchange, there was a mutual understanding of each other''s strengths. Jiang Liu relentlessly smashed down with his Green Lotus Staff.


    Simrly, the ws and sharp teeth of the Wolf Demon were unusually ferocious.


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    But in a brief moment, the Wolf Demon''s health bar had only about two-thirds left, whereas Jiang Liu''s health was even more perilous, not even a third remaining...


    Healing Potion!


    Just then, Jiang Liu took a moment to retrieve a potion from his pack space and gulped it down.


    The recovery of 10% health was still quite good.


    As soon as he swallowed the potion and saw the Wolf Demon continuing to charge at him, Jiang Liu raised his hand and used the Sheep Transformation Technique.


    The fierce Wolf Demon, in a sh, turned into a harmless-lookingmb, with a bewildered expression in its eyes.


    Bang bang bang!


    Following the Sheep Transformation Technique, the Swift Fire Bead fell, and with the attack of the Green Lotus Staff, it continuously pounded on themb, reducing its health bar by another notch.


    In just two short seconds, the moment passed, and the Wolf Demon quickly recovered, opening its mouth to conjure several Wind des, all shing towards Jiang Liu.


    The special effect of the shing Brilliance Shoes had just finished cooling down, and Jiang Liu dodged past these spell attacks, appearing behind the Wolf Demon.


    With a grin, the Wolf Demon revealed a conspiratorial, eerie smile, its white teeth bared as its ws swiped back.


    Having experienced the shing Brilliance Shoes'' effects, it had clearly taken all of this into ount already.


    "Wolves really are creatures full of cunning schemes," looking at the oing ws, it was already toote to dodge, and Jiang Liu quickly applied the Vajra Mantra''s defense effect on himself.


    Although it could only block one attack, the exemption from 80% of the damage was still very effective.


    This w strikended on Jiang Liu but barely had an effect; he was merely scratched and took the opportunity to retreat a few steps.


    The battle continued, and from the situation, it was evident that Jiang Liu''s strength was naturally much weaker than that of the Wolf Demon.


    However, with the Silencing Zen, Vajra Mantra, shing Brilliance Shoes, Sheep Transformation Technique, and even the Sandalwood Buddha Beads and Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, using control and self-preservation methods in conjunction with the Guanyin Mantra and Healing Potion''s restorative effects, Jiang Liu had not been defeated despite being at a disadvantage in the fight.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was just a man and a wolf, both umting more and more serious wounds.


    The fierce battle went on for another fifteen minutes in a sh.


    Jiang Liu''s health bar was left with less than one-tenth, extremely dangerous, and simrly, the Wolf Demon''s health bar was not much better off than Jiang Liu''s.


    Breathing heavily, with a charred body and a cunning glint in its eyes, the Wolf Demon suddenly went down on all fours, turned tail, and fled, despite its severe injuries.


    "Think you can escape!?" After fighting to this point, even though his injuries were also very severe, how could Jiang Liu let the Wolf Demon get away?


    The special effect of the shing Brilliance Shoes had just cooled down, and with a sh, he caught up with the Wolf Demon.


    However, almost at the same time, in front of the Wolf Demon, a Wind de coalesced and shed towards Jiang Liu!


    Trickery!


    The Wolf Demon was convinced that Jiang Liu would not give up easily, so the instant Jiang Liu activated the shing Brilliance Shoes, it counterattacked, as if the Wolf Demon had conjured its Wind de and Jiang Liu had purposely run into it.


    "Damn it, danger!" Seeing this, White Dragon Horse and Sun Wokong, who had been watching from a distance without intervening, their expressions changed.


    Taken by surprise, Jiang Liu couldn''t dodge it, and the Vajra Mantra skill was still cooling down; he could only watch as the massive Wind de descended upon him.


    With less than one-tenth of his health left, he definitely couldn''t withstand this move. For the first time, Jiang Liu felt the approach of death...

 Chapter 109 The Third Legendary Quality Equipment

    The enormous Wind de was right before his eyes, and Jiang Liu, having instantaneously moved behind the Wolf Demon using the special effect of the shing Brilliance Shoes, was faced with the Wind de that seemed to be waiting for him, unable to dodge in time and could only watch as it heavily struck him.


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    With less than a tenth of his health left, he simply couldn''t withstand this Wind de attack.


    However, as he watched the terrifying spell hit him, Jiang Liu did not die, nor did he feel anything¡ªit was as if the Wind de was merely an illusion.


    However, the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe on his body did tear slightly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jiang Liu remained expressionless, this scene was entirely within his expectations; this was the special effect of the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe. When he was about to encounter a fatal attack, the robe''s special effect would activate, consuming 5 points of the robe''s durability, and transfer all the damage from the attack to the robe itself.


    Clearly, with his current injuries, the Wind de was enough to kill him, which had triggered the special effect of the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe.


    The Wolf Demon, with a cunning, proud, and cruel look in its eyes, was thrilled as it saw its Wind de sessfully hit Jiang Liu. Sess!


    However, seeing Jiang Liu still lively and vigorous, the Wolf Demon was stunned, unbelieving of what was unfolding before its eyes.


    What was going on?


    This Little Monk, who was he really? His cultivation level hadn''t even reached the Body Tempering Realm, yet he possessed many miraculous methods,pletely unlike what someone of his cultivation should have.


    However, Jiang Liu was certainly not going to reveal the answers to the Wolf Demon''s questions.


    After using the special effect of the Golden Cicada Buddha Robe to block the fatal attack from the Wolf Demon, and noticing the robe''s durability drop from 13 to 8 points, Jiang Liu could no longer afford to grieve over the durability, as he fiercely swung the Green Lotus Staff onto the Wolf Demon''s head.


    Following the attack, he raised his hand once more and the Swift Fire Bead''s spell hit the Wolf Demon, almost depleting its health bar.


    With such a dangerous level of health, Jiang Liu naturally would not give it a chance to counterattack. The Sheep Transformation Technique, just off cooldown, was activated again.


    With one final swing of his staff, he sessfully knocked the Wolf Demon unconscious.


    To thoroughly eliminate evil, Jiang Liu had no intention of sparing the life of these inherently violent and man-eating demons. Seeing the Wolf Demon knocked unconscious, he approached and dealt another blow with his staff,pletely killing it.


    Notice: Gained 14200 Experience Points, gained 5 silver coins.


    Notice: Level has increased by 1, current level 21.


    Notice: The job change mission ispleted, please choose the direction for job change.


    With the Wolf Demonpletely dead, a session of system notifications appeared, much to Jiang Liu''s delight.


    Firstly, the experience points from this Demon General astounded Jiang Liu; over 14000 experience points, which was indeed substantial¡ªkilling this Wolf Demon was worth as much as his earlier mission of eliminating six bandits.


    However, upon reflection, fighting and killing this Wolf Demon alone seemed far more perilous than the mission, didn''t it?


    Of course, aside from his astonishment, Jiang Liu was more overjoyed for not only had he gained a considerable amount of experience points, but after so long, his level had finally increased again, reaching level 21.


    In the terms of the Journey to the West World, he could now be considered to have officially entered the Body Tempering Realm, right?


    With such cultivation, even without the amplification from equipment and skills, hisbat power was nowparable to that of a Demon Soldier.


    Moreover, the most important thing was the job change mission. After so many bustling days, the job change mission was finallypleted, which brought Jiang Liu immense joy.


    With the job change phase reached, he could now consider himself having officially passed the novice period of the game, right?


    As he leveled up, a cool sensation appeared inside his body, quickly sweeping over him, and in the blink of an eye, Jiang Liu felt all his injuries heal.


    Not only that, but the True Yuan he had greatly consumed during the battle also fully recovered.


    From a gamer''s perspective, it was an upgrade. Both health and mana were fully restored, which also saved Jiang Liu some time from having to cast the Guanyin Mantra on himself.


    There was no rush to choose a new profession. Amidst the surprise, Jiang Liu began essing his inventory space.


    He had just single-handedly in a Wolf Demon General, a feat that was incredibly challenging for his level. Who knew what items had dropped?


    Although during the battle the loot was stolen, the items from creatures he killed solo or with his team were automatically picked up into his inventory space.


    As the inventory space opened, it didn''t take long for Jiang Liu to notice some new items.


    As Jiang Liu''s gaze fell, the corresponding attribute information appeared before him.


    A Blood Bottle, not worth mentioning.


    But there was also an Enhanced Healing Potion, which surprised Jiang Liu.


    This Enhanced Healing Potion had also dropped when he''d defeated the Demon Marshal Electric Light Leopard in the Demon-Suppressing Hall. It could restore 20% of his health, a good item that doubled the effects of standard Healing Potions.


    Two Mana Potions were a decent find. In battles as intense as this,sting over half an hour, he would have exhausted all his mana, so these were good for sustaining his power.


    Although up until now, Jiang Liu had never used any; he had just stored all the Mana Potions that had dropped.


    Of course, apart from the potions, there were three pieces of equipment and a Skill Book. For Jiang Liu, who had taken on the Demon General alone, this drop rate was indeed quite good.


    All three equipment pieces were useful for him now. After checking their attributes, Jiang Liu discarded the less valuable equipment and equipped the more valuable ones.


    After refreshing his gear, Jiang Liu carefully examined his outfit and nodded in satisfaction.


    Weapon: Green Lotus Staff (Perfect Quality): Required Level 20, Attack +185, Special Effect: When using recovery Skills and items, effectiveness +10%, Durability 15/20.


    Clothing: Golden Cicada Buddha Robe (Perfect Quality): Required Level 15, Defense +400, Passive Skill (Golden Cicada''s Shedding): When receiving a fatal attack, transfers the damage to the Buddha Robe, consuming 5 durability, Durability 8/15.


    Helmet: Vidyaraja Crown (Legendary Quality): No level requirement, Defense +1000 (10-100000, depending on one''s level), Apanying Special Effect: Converts 10% of damage dealt to the target into the wearer''s health, Durability 64/100.


    Ne: Chequ Buddha Beads (Fine Level): Required Level 20, Defense +100, Special Effect: Increases the level of Vajra Mantra by +1, Durability 20/20.


    Belt: Silk Cloth Belt (Common Level): Required Level 15, Defense +35, Durability 4/10.


    Ring: Redwood Ring (Fine Quality): Attack Power +20, Passive Effect: After 300 seconds of exitingbat, the first attack causes double damage, Durability 7/10.


    Ring: Huali Law Ring (Legendary Level): Required Level 21, Attack +380, Special Effect: Out ofbat, restores 1% of lost health every 10 seconds, Durability 12/25.


    Bracelet: Bronze Bracelet (Common Quality): Required Level 10, Defense +20, Durability 8/10.


    Bracelet: ck Iron Bracelet (Common Quality): Required Level 20, Defense +80, Durability 6/10.


    Shoes: shing Brilliance Shoes (Legendary Level): Required Level 20, Defense +460, Special Effect: Enables instantaneous movement within a 10-meter radius, Cooldown Time 300 seconds, Durability 4/30.


    Special essory: Skill Bookcase (Special essory): Can hold three Skill Books from other professions, granting the ability to learn their skills.


    Special essory: Empty


    Special essory: Empty


    (PS: No prize quiz: Which three pieces of equipment are newly acquired from the list?)

 Chapter 110 Successful Job Change

    Looking over his equipment, Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction.


    The three newly acquired items, the Chequ Buddha Beads, the Huali Law Ring, and the ck Iron Bracelet, among them the most notable was naturally the Legendary Level Huali Law Ring.


    A full 380 points of attack power increase, which was precisely what Jiang Liu wascking at the moment.


    After all, having just battled the Wolf Demon, Jiang Liu had a good understanding of his own situation. Due to two pieces of Legendary Level defense equipment, he was typically low in attack but high in defense.


    Now, with this Huali Law Ring, it was different; 380 points of attack power, more than double that of the Green Lotus Staff''s 185 points.


    Secondly, the Chequ Buddha Beads were also impressive, although the enhancement BUFF effect of the Sandalwood Buddha Beads was quite practical, the Chequ Buddha Beads added 100 points to defense. Moreover, this piece of equipment also increased the skill level of Vajra Mantra, almost as if it had given him an extra Skill Point.


    Looking at the Vajra Mantra, the Middle Level Vajra Mantra did not change the immunity to damage, but the original one-time attack block had be two, and even the cooldown time had shortened a bit, very practical.


    Thest piece, the ck Iron Bracelet, was Common Level equipment. It reced the previous Refined Iron Bracelet, slightly enhancing his defense.


    Considering the equipment exploded by the Demon General Level Wolf Demon, Jiang Liu naturally nodded in satisfaction.


    Aside from the three pieces of equipment and potions, finally, the Wolf Demon had also dropped a skill book, a level 20 Compassionate Bodhisattva profession skill book.


    Seeing this skill book, Jiang Liu focused on his own situation concerning transformation.


    A support type Compassionate Bodhisattva or an attack type Immovable Ming King, which one should he transform into?


    Initially, Jiang Liu decided on the Immovable Ming King, considering thatpared to the weaker attack capability of support, wasn''t it better to have the Immovable Ming King''s inherent strong fighting power?


    But now, after much thought andprehensive consideration, Jiang Liu felt the Compassionate Bodhisattva suited him better.


    In the Journey to the West World, Divine Skills could be learned as long as one had Skill Points, and together with the Skill Bookcase, even if he transformed into the Compassionate Bodhisattva, there wouldn''t be a shortage of attack methods.


    And thinking of future battles with Immortals and Buddhas, various enhancement BUFFs and control skills, and even group healing methods, wouldn''t these be more valuable?


    Jiang Liu could not forget that the Compassionate Bodhisattva also had the Divine Skill¡ªResurrection Technique!


    In this world where Immortals and Buddhas nearly controlled the Three Realms and Six Paths, resurrection? That seemed to be a privilege of the Immortal Buddha leaders.


    If he really was to topple the myriad heavenly deities, possessing the Resurrection Technique was very important.


    With this thought, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the Compassionate Bodhisattva transformation suited him better. Without much hesitation, Jiang Liu immediately chose the transformation into Compassionate Bodhisattva.


    Notification: You have sessfully transformed into Compassionate Bodhisattva.


    Well, after the transformation, there were no extravagant miracles nor were there rewards like equipment and items; there was merely a in system notification.


    Yet, Jiang Liu was very clear that this system notification was a watershed. From now on, he was no longer a beginner.


    Following the transformation, the skill book just exploded by the Wolf Demon was now learnable.


    However, in front of Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse, Jiang Liu did not show any intent to take out the skill book to study; after all, a skill book transforming into sparkles of light and merging into oneself was a bit too fantastical and hard to exin.


    Thinking of Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse, Jiang Liu turned his head to look and found both of them staring at him nkly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Wukong, why are you looking at me? Is there something wrong with me?" Lowering his head to check, besides a crack that had appeared on his Golden Cicada Buddha Robe, there seemed to be nothing amiss. Jiang Liu asked, puzzled.


    "Master, could it be that you practice cultivation through the path of killing?" Sun Wukong spoke up, his voice filled with surprise as he addressed Jiang Liu, his eyes also reflecting a sudden realization.


    Throughout their journey, although Jiang Liu had almost grasped every moment for cultivation, he had also fought almost obsessively, not even allowing himself to strike. Sun Wukong had just thought of him as someone who enjoyed fighting.


    Now, as the Wolf Demon had been killed by him and his cultivation had also risen to the Body Tempering Realm, did Sun Wukong suddenly realize¡ªwas his master practicing the path of ughter?


    Otherwise, it was hard to exin why his cultivation broke through right after he killed the Wolf Demon.


    However, what was unbelievable was that, despite always championingpassion, as a disciple of the Buddhist Sect, his master was actually following the path of killing?


    It seems that he truly was different from the other disciples.


    Sun Wukong saying he followed the path of killing caused Jiang Liu to pause briefly. However, after contemting it, his leveling up through killing monsters, indeed felt like what Sun Wukong had suggested.


    Thus, after pondering for a moment, Jiang Liu nodded in agreement with his words. "Hmm, there are three thousand great ways to attain enlightenment, isn''t it? What''s wrong with attaining it through killing?"


    "But how did your injuries heal in the blink of an eye?" While astonished at Jiang Liu''s path of killing, what truly surprised Sun Wukong was that Jiang Liu''s injuries had healedpletely in the blink of an eye along with his leveling up.


    As long as one wasn''t blind, it was clear just moments ago that Jiang Liu had been utterly exhausted, at the end of his strength.


    And now? He lookedpletely revitalized, not at all like someone who had just been through a fierce battle.


    "Hmm, I''m not quite sure about that situation myself," Jiang Liu said regarding the difficult question without any intention of exining. He simply imed he wasn''t sure and left it at that.


    Studying Jiang Liu carefully, Sun Wukong''s eyes even shed a golden fire, typical of his Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze.


    Unfortunately, even with the Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze, there was no clue to be discerned. Sun Wukong decided not to delve deeper.


    Yet, after this battle, Sun Wukong buried a seed of expectation in his heart towards Jiang Liu.


    Previously, when Jiang Liu spoke of rising to power within a few years to overturn the Heavenly Deities and Buddhas, Sun Wukong wasn''t very convinced.


    But now, Sun Wukong realized there were many secrets about him that even he was unaware of.


    Given this, perhaps what he said wasn''t entirely impossible, right?


    The White Dragon Horse beside them, merely a persistent follower, naturally had no right to interrupt the conversation between Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong. So, he lowered his head, appearing obedient and dared not speak, but internally, he felt somewhat chilled.


    The people who tread the path of killing have always been ruthless and fearless; to think that the Buddhist disciple, the Scripture Seeker, was also treading the path of killing?


    It seemed that he should be even more cautious, not to offend him, otherwise, who knows if he might end up as a corpse on his master''s path to enlightenment in the future.


    Putting aside Jiang Liupleting his job transition and continuing on the road, atop a scenic mountain peak in the 300-mile stretch of Wolf Dwelling Mountain, a vigorous me burnt in an alchemy furnace.


    A young man dressed in a white schr''s robe sat next to the furnace, attentively watching the elixirs inside, obviouslypletely engrossed in them.


    Just then, a ck wolf came over, transforming into a humanoid figure with a wolf''s head, and bowed.


    "Great King, a bald Monk has entered our territory, and the Vanguard Leader has already been killed by him."

 Chapter 111 The Passionate Demon King Master Lingxu

    The man d in a white schr''s robe, his gaze fixated on the alchemy furnace before him, heard the words without shifting his gaze, as if the one who had died was not his subordinate, his expression serene, "I have said many times that although humans are born with an Innate Taoist Body, consuming them can greatly increase our Demon n''s cultivation level, but they are not to be trifled with, especially Taoists and Monks.


    I suppose he didn''t heed my words, saw a human enter Wolf Dwelling Mountain, and wanted to try a fresh catch, only to be killed by someone instead?"


    "Indeed, Great King, you foresee with divine precision... it is exactly as you said..." The wolf-headed Demon Marshal, bowing his head, dared not hide the truth.


    "Since that is the case, if he is dead, then let him be dead. If one wishes to kill others, one must be prepared to be killed," he said softly, waving his hand, the man in the white schr''s robe.


    Clearly, he did not take this matter to heart and motioned for the Demon Marshal to withdraw.


    Since the Great King had already responded, the Wolf Demon naturally dared not say more, bowing his head and stepping back to leave.


    "Wait..."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, just as the Wolf Demon turned to leave, suddenly, the man in the schr''s robe seemed to recall something, saying, "You just said that the one who intruded upon our Wolf Dwelling Mountain is a Monk, right? And a Monk with cultivation level at that. In that case, observe the other party from a distance, do not rm them.


    Once I havepleted this batch of elixir, I will meet him in person."


    "As you decree, Great King," hearing the man in the white schr''s robe, the nearby Wolf Demon nodded and swiftly departed.


    ...


    Jiang Liu walked forward with a calm demeanor, each step firm and steady, neither too fast nor too slow, with the White Dragon Horse bowing its head, following behind Jiang Liu, still shamelessly tagging along without title or im.


    And on the White Dragon Horse? Sun Wukongy on the horse''s back,pletely at ease.


    What was originally the Master''s mount now seemed to have be Sun Wukong''s own steed.


    Having walked for the better part of the day, and since taking down that Wolf Demon General, no other demon hade looking for trouble. As the sky gradually darkened, Jiang Liu felt a quiet surprise.


    Could it be that the Demon General was already the strongest demon creature in this area?


    The initial encounters with some demons were merely patrols hunting, and Jiang Liu had knocked them out, selectively killing a few to provoke the anger of other demon creatures, waiting for them to seek him out.


    However, after killing the Demon General and a long while passing without any demon creatures showing up, Jiang Liu felt some amazement.


    "Wukong, it''s gettingte. Let''s rest for the night and then continue on," Jiang Liu said, looking at the sky, which had indeed begun to turn dark.


    "You got it!" Sun Wukong immediately somersaulted off the back of the White Dragon Horse at these words, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Jiang Liu, "Master, what''s for dinner tonight?"


    "Hmm, we''ve had rather greasy food thesest few days. Let''s have something light to cleanse the stomach," Jiang Liu said thoughtfully, knowing the gleam in Sun Wukong''s eyes and what he was thinking.


    Tonight, Jiang Liu nned to take some time to cook a pot of vegetable and lean meat porridge.


    Fortunately, they had restocked on supplies back in Wu City. The vegetables were kept in a storage space, never rotting or spoiling.


    "Great, great, as long as it''s something you make, Master, I, Old Sun, will like it," Sun Wukong said, though Jiang Liu had mentioned having something light, he showed no objections, instead nodding agreeably.


    With practiced ease, Jiang Liu set up the pots and pans, drew some fresh water, and began to cook the porridge.


    However, when Jiang Liu looked at the salt container, he discovered it to bepletely empty.


    "It seems I need to refine some Snow Salt," Jiang Liu said upon seeing this, taking out some bottles and jars, along with someyers of cheesecloth.


    Although they had also purchased salt during the resupply in Wu City, the salt from this era was quite coarse and had a bitter taste.


    Thus, the salt that Jiang Liu used for himself was always purified by his own hands, removing all impurities. If the salt was finished, he would simply purify more salt purchased back.


    All of this, Jiang Liu had long mastered, with the most important aspect being the technique of filtration.


    Without a beaker, a jar could serve as a substitute;cking filter paper, severalyers of gauze could take its ce¡ªthere were always more solutions than difficulties.


    Tap, tap, tap!


    However, just as Jiang Liu was cooking porridge and taking the opportunity to purify some table salt, under the dusk sunset, a figure approached from the west, backlighted by the orange-hued sun, casting a long shadow.


    ncing up at the figure approaching, the person was dressed in a white schrly robe and flicking a fan between their fingers, presenting a schrly and refined appearance, like that of a schr.


    "This great master, greetings. I go by the Taoist title of Master Lingxu," said the man dressed as a schr, his curiosity apparent as he nced at Jiang Liu''s salt purification process, before he promptly bowed in greeting.


    "A Taoist title? Is he a Taoist?" Jiang Liu wondered to himself, surprised that the man outfitted like a schr had introduced himself with a Taoist title.


    Nheless, Jiang Liu maintained hisposure and stood up to return the bow, saying, "I am Monk Xuanzang returning the greeting."


    "Xuanzang!?" The man who called himself Master Lingxu showed a flicker of movement in his expression upon hearing Jiang Liu''s dharma name.


    "Oh? Perhaps you have heard of me before?" Jiang Liu asked with curiosity, noting Master Lingxu''s reaction.


    "It is said that there is a Holy Monk in the Great Tang of the Eastern Land who journeyed to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the True Scriptures, also bearing the dharma name Xuanzang. I wonder..." Master Lingxu asked directly, without any intention of concealment.


    "Indeed, that is me," Jiang Liu admitted openly, as the other party had heard of his reputation.


    He actually hoped for the Journey to the West to be long and drawn out; Jiang Liu would have loved to carry a banner through the streets, letting all demons know he had arrived, and then have theme to deliver experience points.


    If possible, he might even want to advertise the special properties of his Flesh of Longevity...


    "Truly the Holy Monk, I did not expect that on this Wolf Dwelling Mountain, where I have lived for a thousand years, I would have the fortune to meet the Holy Monk today, it is indeed a blessing of three lifetimes..." Master Lingxu was very pleased upon hearing Jiang Liu acknowledge his identity.


    "Lived for a thousand years? Who are you?" Jiang Liu asked in wonder, hearing Master Lingxu''s words.


    "I do not wish to deceive the Holy Monk. I am originally a White Wolf from Wolf Dwelling Mountain. For a thousand years, I have diligently pursued the Immortal Path through cultivation, and have also engaged in discussions on the Tao with many eminent monks and Taoists, which has been greatly beneficial.


    To see the Holy Monk today fills me with joy," Master Lingxu frankly confessed his identity as a demon creature when asked by Jiang Liu.


    "Eh? This demon seems a bit different," Jiang Liu thought to himself, noting the other''s humble and courteous demeanor and the fact that he openly disclosed his identity as a demon.


    "The Holy Monk has graced Wolf Dwelling Mountain, which is a great karmic connection. It is my duty to fulfill the responsibilities of a host. Coincidentally, I have refined two Spirit Pills today, and I hope the Holy Monk will stay his Zen Step to share them. How does that sound?" Master Lingxu warmly invited Jiang Liu, after learning of his identity.


    Since it was a demon, Jiang Liu naturally remained cautious of the prospect that the other party might harbor ill intentions toward him, but on his Journey to the Western Heaven, the eighty-one tribtions for Jiang Liu were seen as eighty-one opportunities.


    Encountering a demon, Jiang Liu naturally wished to stay, to dy his journey as much as possible.


    "In that case, I will take the liberty of imposing upon you," he said.


    Without much hesitation, Jiang Liu pressed his palms together and humbly epted the offer.


    (PS: It seems our book is set tounch next Friday, the 6th...)

 Chapter 112 Speaking of the Taoist Body

    This demon creature named Master Lingxu actually took the initiative to reveal his demon identity, which left Jiang Liu feeling astonished, as he seemed different from other demons.


    Since he invited Jiang Liu to stay, this yed right into Jiang Liu''s hands; naturally, there was no intention of refusal.


    If Master Lingxu did not attack him, then Jiang Liu could buy some time; if he coveted Jiang Liu''s Tang Monk''s Evesting Flesh, then Jiang Liu could let Sun Wukong deal with him, earning himself some Contribution Points and Experience Points and possibly even good loot.


    No matter how one looked at it, Jiang Liu wouldn''t be at a loss, so when Master Lingxu warmly invited him, Jiang Liu did not give it much thought before epting.


    Atop Wolf Dwelling Mountain, there was a cave abode, clearly where Master Lingxu resided. Under his enthusiastic invitation, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong entered.


    Inside the cave abode, it truly was a gathering of demons, Jiang Liu saw no fewer than ten Demon Marshals with beast heads and human bodies, which greatly rmed him.


    The Blood Tiger King from Foutu Mountain had only three Demon Marshals at his disposal; judging from this strength, Master Lingxu was undeniably more powerful than the Blood Tiger King.


    "Servants, quickly prepare a feast; I will host the Holy Monk from Great Tang!" eximed Master Lingxu enthusiastically as he weed Jiang Liu into the cave.


    Following Master Lingxu''smand, the demon creatures in the cave quickly busied themselves, and soon, fruits and fine wines wereid out on the tables.


    Seeing how efficiently the demon creatures in the cave worked, it was clear that Master Lingxu was no stranger to hosting banquets.


    Upon entering the demon''s cave abode, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong took their respective seats, while the White Dragon Horse was left outside.


    For one, it wouldn''t be fitting for him in horse form to attend the banquet, and secondly, he had been sticking around uninvited, naturally having no intention of joining the bustling event and quietly waiting outside instead.


    "Come, Holy Monk, let me first offer you a drink as an apology," Master Lingxu said, raising his cup to Jiang Liu after they were seated.


    "Holy Monk, when you were passing through my Wolf Dwelling Mountain, you shed with some of my ipetent subordinates. It was my negligence in hospitality," Master Lingxu said.


    With those words, Master Lingxu drained his cup.


    "It''s nothing," Jiang Liu also drank his wine and replied.


    Instead of getting angry for killing his subordinates, he apologized to Jiang Liu? Master Lingxu truly was a bit different.


    "May I ask, Great King, do you always treat guests this way? Forgive my frankness, but a demon kind like you is a rarity I''ve seldom encountered," curious and puzzled, Jiang Liu directly voiced his question.


    "Ah, Holy Monk, you''re asking why I''m different from my kin," Master Lingxu sighed and replied, his expression wistful.


    "Indeed, I am curious," Jiang Liu nodded and said.


    "Holy Monk, you may not realize this, but the Human n possesses Innate Taoist Bodies, which are gifted by nature. Their cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds, far beyond what other species canpare with. We of the Demon n need to go through hundreds and thousands of years of cultivation just to transform into Taoist Bodies.


    Yet even so, without guidance and Cultivation Techniques, we can only grope for the Immortal Path, treading on thin ice, and a single misstep may lead to death and the end of our path," Master Lingxu exined.


    "Therefore, over the years, if I encounter monks or Taoistsing to Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil, even if I defeat them, I do not y them. Instead, I host them with good food and drinks, seeking to discuss philosophical matters that might benefit my search on the Immortal Path," Master Lingxu continued.


    "I see," Jiang Liu realized as he listened to Master Lingxu''s exnation, appreciating that he was a demon earnestly in pursuit of the Immortal Path.


    "By the way, what exactly does ''Innate Taoist Body'' mean?" Jiang Liu, curious, looked at Master Lingxu and asked.


    He had encountered the Demon Marshal Level Electric Light Leopard in the Demon-Suppressing Hall before, which mentioned that the Little Witch was an Innate Taoist Body. Now hearing Master Lingxu bring up the same term, Jiang Liu asked him about it.


    "Hmm, Holy Monk, don''t you know what a ''Taoist Body'' is?" Jiang Liu''s question left Master Lingxu taken aback for a moment, as he thought it was basicmon knowledge in the cultivation world.


    "Master, I, Old Sun, know this," Sun Wukong, who was holding a wine cup by the side, interjected upon hearing Jiang Liu''s inquiry.


    "It''s said that in the ancient times, when numerous ns stood tall,peting for living space, naturally, they had to diligently cultivate. In the end, all races reached a consensus on one form¡ªthat the form of the Taoist Body is the mostpatible with the Heavenly Dao.


    Therefore, no matter the race, when one''s cultivation reaches a certain stage, they will transform into the form of a Taoist Body. This method has been continued to this day."


    "Continued to this day, you mean? As in demons transforming their shape? Transforming into humans?" Jiang Liu suddenly understood upon hearing Sun Wukong''s exnation.


    Sun Wukong nodded and answered, "Indeed, the human form is actually the shape most in harmony with the Heavenly Dao. That''s why in ancient times, all races would transform into this form to align with the Heavenly Dao."


    "It waster when Goddess Nvwa created humans from y that she directly fashioned the Human n after the model of the Taoist Body. Since then, as the human race prospered, they were born in this Taoist Body form, which is called the Innate Taoist Body."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I see, no wonder throughout history, countless demons have sought to transform into human form. It turns out it''s not that they wanted to be human, but rather that this form was the mostpatible with the Heavenly Dao right from the start of humanity''s existence," Jiang Liu realized after Sun Wukong''s exnation.


    Other races need to cultivate strenuously to reach a certain realm in order to transform into a Taoist Body, such as demons needing to achieve the status of a Demon King.


    Yet humans, though weak at birth, are born in the form of a Taoist Body, thus it''s no wonder Master Lingxu said the Human n is a race blessed by the heavens.


    No wonder the legends say that many humans who have cultivated for decades could contend with demons who have cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years.


    So, the Little Witch from the Demon-Suppressing Hall, although a member of the Demon n, was also an Innate Taoist Body?


    Thinking about it carefully, the Little Witch indeed looked just like a human, with no discernible difference. No wonder that Electric Light Leopard said she was of the Innate Taoist Body form.


    It seems that in the Demon n, her talents were also extraordinary, which is why her father gave the seed of the Samadhi Demonic Fire to the Little Witch?


    "Someonee here, fetch the two Spirit Elixirs I refined today," Before Jiang Liu could dwell further on his thoughts, Master Lingxu suddenly spoke up and ordered a Demon Marshal beside him.


    "Great King, you, you mean to fetch the Spirit Elixirs?" The Demon Marshal expressed surprise upon hearing this and asked as if seeking confirmation.


    Though it wasn''t unusual for the Great King to host Taoists and monks, offering his own refined Spirit Pills as hospitality was a first.


    "Yes, aren''t you going yet?" Master Lingxu nodded and red with his eyes.


    The Demon Marshal quickly nodded and left, returning in a moment holding a tray.


    On the tray were ced two pills radiating a luminescent glow, about the size of longan fruits.


    "Holy Monk, I saw you seemed to be practicing alchemy just now? You must be well-versed in the art of pills. I''ve just refined two new Spirit Elixirs today, and I''d like you, Holy Monk, to appraise them," Master Lingxu said as he had the Demon Marshal bring the Spirit Pills before Jiang Liu.


    Observing Jiang Liu''s actions of purifying salt earlier, Master Lingxu had apparently mistook it for a novel alchemical technique.


    Spirit Pills!? In this mythical world, the existence of Spirit Pills was naturally a great thing, but Jiang Liu had never seen one before and was curious, his gaze fixed on the Spirit Pills before him.


    As Jiang Liu''s gaze lingered, the data rted to the Spirit Pills appeared in front of him.


    Spirit Elixir (Consumable): Created from heavenly materials and earthly treasures using a secret technique. Upon consumption, one can gain 500,000 Experience Points. Subsequent uses halve the effect, and one must be no higher than Level 60 to use.

 Chapter 113 Parting on Bad Terms

    Looking at the Attribute Information of this Spirit Elixir, Jiang Liu''s heart swelled with joy. A single pill for 500,000 Experience Points?


    Although the effect would halve with subsequent uses, didn''t these two elixirs add up to 750,000 Experience Points?


    It only took me a couple hundred thousand Experience Points to level up from 20 to 21, so 750,000 should be enough for a few more levels, right?


    "Great stuff, taking it can increase one''s Cultivation Level!" Jiang Liu eximed loudly after seeing the Attribute Information of the Spirit Elixir.


    There was no sense of politeness in his speech. Such a treasure that could directly add Experience Points and elevate one''s level should be consumed first before anything else.


    Jiang Liu reached out, grabbed the two Spirit Elixirs in his hand, and without any unnecessary words, he swallowed one of them right away.


    Notification: Experience Points +500000.


    Notification: Level up 1, current level 22.


    Notification: Level up 1, current level 23.


    The system notifications rang out one after another, and Jiang Liu could clearly feel the power of the elixir quickly dispersing into his limbs and bones, invisibly boosting his strength considerably.


    Even though he knew the higher the level, the more Experience Points it required, Jiang Liu could also clearly sense that each level he gained after level 20 brought him far more strength than before.


    If one were to quantify it in terms ofbat power, maybe advancing from level 10 to 11 could increase hisbat power by 100 points, but going from level 20 to 21 might add over 500 points...


    "Hmm, the higher the level, the more Experience Points needed to level up, but likewise, the improvement in strength gained from each level up is much more substantial, which is only natural," Jiang Liu nodded to himself, feeling the significant increase in power from leveling up twice.


    "The Holy Monk is truly a master of Alchemy, able to understand the efficacy of this Spirit Elixir with just one look," Master Lingxu didn''t know what was going on in Jiang Liu''s mind, but his eyes shone with both shock and joy as he eximed.


    Even though he was keen on pursuing the Tao, Master Lingxu was, after all, of the Demon Kind, devoid of guidance and without a Cultivation Technique, so he had to explore and cultivate on his own.


    Therefore, whenever he encountered Taoists or monks, he would treat them with great respect, engage in discussions, and hope for some enlightenment.


    The Alchemy Technique he practiced was something he stumbled upon hundreds of years ago; after relentless research over the centuries, he unlocked his current achievements.


    Learning that a monk had entered Wolf Dwelling Mountain today, Master Lingxu personally went to see for himself, and just so happened to find Jiang Liu refining salt. Master Lingxu thought Jiang Liu''s method seemed to be some novel form of Alchemy Technique.


    After talking for a bit and learning that he was the Holy Monk of Great Tang on a mission to the Western Heaven to obtain the True Scriptures, Master Lingxu grew even more excited. Therefore, he enthusiastically invited Jiang Liu to his cave dwelling, hoping to have an in-depth discussion and, ideally, seek some advice on Alchemy.


    After all, his Alchemy Technique was serendipitously acquired and not systematic; he thought that the Buddhist Sect''s Alchemy had many aspects worth learning from.


    Indeed, Master Lingxu felt his guess was correct. As soon as the Holy Monk saw the Spirit Elixir, he recognized its effects, further proving his prowess in Alchemy.


    "What do you think, Holy Monk? I have been refining this Spirit Elixir for hundreds of years; is there room for improvement?" Watching Jiang Liu pop a Spirit Elixir into his mouth, Master Lingxu stared at him curiously and asked.


    "This...," Jiang Liu''s face betrayed a hint of embarrassment upon hearing Master Lingxu''s words.


    Although Master Lingxu was very hospitable, if pushed to say, this was a transaction; Master Lingxu gave him two Spirit Elixirs, hoping Jiang Liu could offer some help in Alchemy.


    However, not having unlocked a Life Profession yet, Jiang Liu knew absolutely nothing about Alchemy!


    "To tell the truth, this monk really doesn''t understand Alchemy," Although somewhat embarrassed, Jiang Liu paused for a moment and, facing Master Lingxu''s searching and expectant gaze, decided it was best to be honest.


    This answer left Master Lingxu''s expression frozen momentarily: "Why do you dismiss it, Holy Monk? You could discern the medicinal properties of the pill at one nce, you must be skilled in Alchemy. Could it be that you disdain me for being of the Demon Kind and refuse to offer guidance?"


    "You misunderstand, I truly do not understand it," Jiang Liu felt genuinely awkward.


    Initially, Master Lingxu mentioned he would treat him with pills, and seeing they were worth a whopping 500,000 Experience Points each, Jiang Liu couldn''t help himself and just ate one. Little did he know, Master Lingxu was actually proposing a trade, hoping to get some pointers about his Alchemy from Jiang Liu.


    I made myself look like a merchant who has already taken the money, yet has no goods to deliver to the customer.


    "Holy Monk, since you look down on my demon kind, I will not bother you further. Please leave," his face darkened somewhat, looking somewhat unpleasant, Master Lingxu no longer held back, raising his hand as he issued an eviction order.


    Having seen him refine table salt and instantly recognize the effects of the Spirit Elixir, as the Holy Monk of Great Tang, Master Lingxu firmly believed in his mastery of alchemy.


    Yet, having been repeatedly refused, Master Lingxu naturally thought that Jiang Liu was unwilling to give him pointers on alchemy.


    As for his im of not understanding? Naturally, it was just an excuse.


    As the lord of Wolf Dwelling Mountain, although he may be enthusiastic, Master Lingxu, being a Demon King, naturally has his own pride. It would have been ideal for both host and guest to enjoy their time together, but with the Holy Monk of Great Tang acting like this, it was clear that he had prejudices against Master Lingxu''s demon identity.


    So why should Master Lingxu persist in ingratiating himself?


    "Hehehe, you evil demon, it''s just a mere low-quality elixir, and yet you dare to show attitude to us? Back in the day, I, Old Sun, ate who knows how many from Supreme Elder Lord''s pce..." Seeing Master Lingxu issue the eviction order, Sun Wukong chuckled and stood up, displeased.


    Back then, when I forcibly requested the Sea Calming Needle from the Eastern Sea, even the Old Dragon King didn''t dare to show such an attitude. And now, this mere demon wants to be so arrogant when my master has only consumed one of his low-quality elixirs?


    Back then, in the Doushuai Pce, I ate the Supreme Elder Lord''s Immortal Pills like they were jelly beans. What''s this elixir he speaks of?


    "Enough, Wukong..." Seeing Sun Wukong stand up, seemingly ready to fight, Jiang Liu spoke to stop him.


    No matter what, he was in the wrong from the beginning. Perhaps in this wild world, brute force might be the ultimate argument, and it is normal for the strong to take from the weak, but Jiang Liu could not bring himself to do such a thing.


    "Amitabha, Benefactor Master Lingxu, I am in the wrong in this matter and shall take my leave," with palms together, Jiang Liu ced another Spirit Elixir down and spoke.


    As he was speaking, he raised his palm and took out a Healing Potion and a Mana Potion from his storage space.


    "I have two potions here. The red one can heal injuries instantly, and the blue one can instantly replenish mana. I have little to offer, but as a slightpensation, I hope Benefactor will allow me to seek a clear understanding. What I said about not knowing the Alchemy Technique is true. A monk does not lie. Farewell..."


    After cing down the two potions, Jiang Liu recited a Buddhist chant in a low voice, turned, and left Master Lingxu''s dwelling.


    Merely a Healing Potion and a Mana Potion, in exchange for a two-level increase worth a total of 500,000 Experience Points, was naturally not enough.


    For Jiang Liu, this gesture was merely to alleviate his own guilt.


    Watching Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong turn to leave the dwelling, Master Lingxu''s face cleared a bit as he looked at the two potionsid out before him.


    Looking at the Holy Monk''s demeanor, could it be that he truly didn''t harbor prejudice against his demon identity?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Holy Monk, wait a moment..." after some thought, it seemed he might have misjudged the other party, Master Lingxu called out.


    "Amitabha, Benefactor Master Lingxu, we part here. May we meet again if destiny allows," however, Jiang Liu didn''t stop at Master Lingxu''s plea and continued walking away, getting further and further.


    Watching Jiang Liupletely leave the dwelling, Master Lingxu fell into silence for a long time before letting out a long sigh.


    Indeed, with things having escted to this extent, even if he were to ask him to stay, there would be a barrier in their hearts, and it would be meaningless.


    Reaching for the Healing Potion and Mana Potion, Master Lingxu sniffed them gently, then tasted a bit of each, his eyes lighting up.


    "Great King, that monk is really unreasonable. Should we go and kill him?"


    A demon marshal with the head of a beast and the body of a human came forward, volunteering proactively, with all the other demons in the dwelling also filled with righteous indignation.


    However, hearing this, Master Lingxu shook his head: "No, you go and ensure the safe escort of the Holy Monk, so that he may leave Wolf Dwelling Mountain securely."


    Jiang Liu felt guilty, and Master Lingxu also realized he had misunderstood Jiang Liu and felt apologetic as well; thus, the only thing he could do was to ensure Jiang Liu''s safe passage to ease this guilt somewhat.


    He hoped the Holy Monk would travel safely, no longer harassed by evil spirits. That was all the help he could offer...

 Chapter 114 Guanyin Zen Temple

    "Master, given I, Old Sun''s temperament, if two elixirs are consumed, then they are consumed. Why did you put one back? You are I, Old Sun''s master; if you eat two of his elixirs, it would honor him," Sun Wukong said with a twig in his mouth, leaning back on the back of the White Dragon Horse, looking up, and propped on his elbows.


    The White Dragon Horse walked along, its back exceptionally smooth and almost undetectable in its movement.


    "Wukong, Master Lingxu is not having an easy time either. Why should we take advantage of the weak?" Jiang Liu said, turning his head to nce at Sun Wukong and shaking his head.


    If this Master Lingxu coveted one''s own Evesting Flesh and intended to harm oneself, then naturally killing him would be entirely without guilt.


    However, since he had hosted one warmly, even though his displeasure at having his Spirit Elixir eaten was evident, it only resulted in an eviction notice, with no intent to harm. Jiang Liu found he simply could not bring himself to strike down someone under those circumstances.


    Although in Sun Wukong''s view, a mere Master Lingxu was not worth considering, as far as Jiang Liu was concerned, he nodded in agreement, "Hmm, Master, you make a valid point. As one of the Demon Kind, he has sessfully resisted harmful urges and wholeheartedly pursued the Immortal Path; truly, Master Lingxu is not leading an easy life.


    With his Cultivation Level, one more step and he couldpletely shed his mortal form and achieve the body of a Loose Immortal."


    Although Sun Wukong had been instructed by Ancestor Bodhi, he was, after all, born of Demon Kind and deeply understood the difficulties in a demon''s cultivation.


    Even though Sun Wukong did not esteem Master Lingxu''s Cultivation Level, it must be said that, being of Demon Kind and finding his own way in cultivation to reach his current level and soon achieve an Immortal Body, the effort and hardships involved spoke for themselves.


    Regarding Master Lingxu, Jiang Liu and Sun Wukong only had a brief chat and then pushed it to the back of their minds for, to Jiang Liu, Master Lingxu was just a minor episode on his Journey to the West.


    However, one must say, a single Spirit Elixir had granted him 500,000 Experience Points, leaving Jiang Liu feeling both delighted and somewhat guilty.


    Continuing their journey to the West, they traveled through the deste and scarcely popted Wolf Dwelling Mountain for three hundred li. A man, a monkey, and a horse walked all day, rather smoothly.


    "Wukong, have you noticed that something seems amiss?" Jiang Liu remarked, having left the cavern domicile of the Wolf Dwelling Mountain and traveled the whole day without encountering any Demon Creatures, or even venomous insects or fierce beasts. This unnerved Jiang Liu, who then addressed Sun Wukong by his side.


    "Are you referring to how smoothly everything has gone today, Master?"


    Still lying on the horse''s back, Sun Wukong naturally understood what Jiang Liu said and responded, "After we left that demon''s cavern, all along the way, we were apanied by Little Demons. I, Old Sun, initially thought they meant to harm you, Master. It seems, however, I was mistaken; they have been discreetly clearing the ferocious beasts from our path."


    Sun Wukong''s response darkened Jiang Liu''s expression.


    He understood that all this was probably arranged by Master Lingxu. Though he believed he was being kind, clearing obstacles from their path to the west, he failed to realize that his good intentions had caused harm.


    For others, these trials on their journey westward were considered cmities, but for Jiang Liu, they were all opportunities...


    Yet, since things had already progressed thus far, nothing more could be done, and it certainly wasn''t feasible to drive away all the well-intentioned demon creatures.


    Thus, they quickened their pace and, after several more days, finally left the territory of Wolf Dwelling Mountain.


    After leaving Wolf Dwelling Mountain and traveling forward for about half a month, on that day, walking at the foot of a big mountain, Jiang Liu noticed a Zen Temple in the distance.


    Observing the temple, bustling with believersing in to offer incense and worship Buddha, a continuous stream was evident.


    Looking at the entire Zen Temple, resplendent with golden splendor, it exuded an aura of holy magnificence. Though not as grandeur as the Great Buddha Temple, it appeared even more luxurious.


    "Wukong, look at the temple ahead, quite lively. Surely there must be high monks presiding, right?" Jiang Liu remarked after viewing the distant Zen Temple.


    Havinge from Jinshan Temple, Jiang Liu naturally understood that the number of temple visitors entirely depended on the depth of the monks'' and Buddha''s connections.


    Likewise, Jinshan Temple only had one or two Scar of Precepts, as hardly any believers visited.


    "Hmm, that''s a Guanyin Zen Temple. Inside the temple lives an old monk. Gosh, he has eight Scar of Precepts on his head," said Sun Wukong, standing on the back of White Dragon Horse, holding his hand in front of his eyes and making a gesture as if surveying the distance.


    "Eh? Have we already reached the Guanyin Zen Temple?" hearing Sun Wukong''s response, Jiang Liu felt a slight stir in his heart.


    In the original story, wasn''t it here that the old monk stole the Brocade Kasaya?


    Hmm, for me, this is yet another opportunity.


    If I remember correctly, didn''t the old monk from the Guanyin Zen Temple live for a full 200 years? He could truly be considered a cunning person.


    I also recall there was a ck Bear Demon nearby, eventually won over by one of the rings of corruption from Guanyin and made the Mountain Guardian Deity, right?


    "Eh, wait a moment..." the thought of the ck Bear Demon near the Guanyin Zen Temple suddenly struck Jiang Liu.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I recall in the original story, after the ck Bear Demon stole the Brocade Kasaya, he hosted a grand Buddha''s Robe event, inviting some friends to marvel at his treasure, including two other friend from the Demon Kind, a Grey Wolf Demon and a Flower Snake Demon.


    Among them, the Grey Wolf Demon was killed by Sun Wukong, and then the Bodhisattva disguised herself as the Grey Wolf Demon to subdue the ck Bear Demon.


    Remember? The original Grey Wolf Demon was called?


    Master Lingxu!?


    If it were just a coincidence in names, it would be one thing, but the Master Lingxu from Wolf Dwelling Mountain is also a Wolf Demon. The Master Lingxu in the original, who was killed, originally carried two Spirit Pills to attend the Buddha''s Robe event, and Master Lingxu from Wolf Dwelling Mountain also devoted himself to alchemy...


    It seems, due to a detour toward Wu City, the route for Journey to the West is slightly different from the original. Before reaching the Guanyin Zen Temple, we first passed through Master Lingxu''s territory, didn''t we?


    Let''s not delve into the thoughts in Jiang Liu''s heart; upon hearing the name of Guanyin Zen Temple, White Dragon Horse''s eyes suddenly brightened significantly, almost shedding two horse tears.


    After receiving enlightenment from the Great Bodhisattva Guanyin to assist this Scripture Seeker, which was initially rejected, I''ve been shamelessly tagged along without official recognition. Now, atst, I see the Guanyin Zen Temple.


    I should definitely let the Bodhisattva exin the reason to the Scripture Seeker properly.


    The White Dragon Horse turned their head toward Jiang Liu, wondering if he would enter the Guanyin Zen Temple as they passed by?


    After all, he himself had said, ''See a temple, worship Buddha; see a pagoda, sweep the pagoda,'' to fulfill his heart''s devotion to Buddha.


    "Wukong, let''s go. Let''s pay our respects properly at the temple ahead¡­" Casting aside the jumble of thoughts in his mind, Jiang Liu quickened his pace, striding towards the Guanyin Zen Temple.


    Upon arriving at the entrance of the Guanyin Zen Temple, looking at its splendid magnificence, Jiang Liu couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe internally; indeed, ''A man relies on clothes, Buddha relies on gold.''


    The Guanyin Zen Temple was indeed splendidly and luxuriously decorated, using modern terms, it was truly a disy of opulence.


    Looking at the Guanyin Zen Temple, Jiang Liu mused internally, but the two Reception Monks at the temple gate, noting Jiang Liu''s dusty appearance, especially the cracks on his Golden Cicada Buddha Robe, disdainfully said:


    "Hey? Where did this scrappy monke from? Don''t block the believers, move along, move along¡­"

 Chapter 115 Jinchi

    Speaking of Jiang Liu, although he carried all his necessities with him due to the storage space, there was one inconvenient aspect, and that was bathing andundering clothes.


    First of all, for bathing, he couldn''t possibly carry arge amount of water in his storage space, could he?


    After all, the water in the storage space was only meant for drinking; bathing still required passing by a river.


    And then there was washing clothes; they had to be dried after washing, right? If he put freshlyundered clothes into the storage space, they woulde out the same way they went in, never drying.


    Thus, despite having no worries about food and drink while traveling westward, personal hygiene was not so convenient.


    Moreover, after the battle with the Wolf Demon, his Golden Cicada Buddha Robe had been torn, giving him a dusty and unkempt appearance. At first nce, he indeed looked disheveled.


    "What an inconsiderate fool, I, Old Sun...", the words of the Reception Monk at the door infuriated Sun Wukong. How could someone be so disdainful and dismissive without even letting him in?


    "Wukong, let your master handle this!", however, seeing the angry look on Sun Wukong''s face, Jiang Liu called out to him.


    His gaze fell upon the Reception Monk, and although he was also annoyed, he felt a sense of delight.


    The annoyance came from being rejected and driven away, which would anger anyone, wouldn''t it?


    The delight, on the other hand, was because it seemed that something was afoot at Guanyin Zen Temple. Wasn''t this exactly what he wanted?


    "Amitabha, this humble monkes from the Great Tang in Eastern Land. I am on a mission from the Emperor of Tang, heading to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Passing by this holy temple, I wished to pay my respects...", with his palms pressed together, Jiang Liu suppressed his anger, speaking in a humble and polite manner.


    "You want toe in to worship Buddha? Do we also have to offer you food and lodging? Get lost, get lost. There are too many like you who want to freeload on food and shelter. Youe from the Great Tang in Eastern Land? So monks from the Great Tang don''t even have a decent kasaya?


    Can''t youe up with a better excuse?"


    The Reception Monk at the door clearly did not believe Jiang Liu''s words, expressing a disdainful attitude, almost as if he wished he could sweep him away with a broom.


    The storyline at Guanyin Zen Temple was a tribtion, and also an excellent opportunity for him to dawdle and make excuses. How could Jiang Liu leave just because of the Reception Monk''s dismissal?


    As the old saying goes, courtesy before force. He had already extended his courtesy, so if the other party still failed to appreciate it, there was no need for him to remain polite.


    Guanyin Zen Temple? Even if he caused a great disturbance, if the Bodhisattva Guanyin herself came out, she would have no reason to harshly me him.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With a n in mind, Jiang Liu raised his hand, and the Green Lotus Staff appeared in his grip: "You blind fool, today I must enter this Zen Temple, whether you like it or not!"


    Once he finished speaking, Jiang Liu swung the Green Lotus Staff towards the Reception Monk.


    "Dare! You wild monk, how dare you cause trouble in my Guanyin Zen Temple? Taste my technique!", the Reception Monk at the entrance of Guanyin Zen Temple, seeing Jiang Liu resort to violence, was not scared but instead yelled angrily. As he spoke, his hands raised, gathering a golden glow, clearly the martial arts of the Arhat Fist.


    Judging from the glow, he was definitely a cut above Senior Brother Xuankong from Jinshan Temple.


    With a bang, the Reception Monk had amendable aura, but the Green Lotus Staff struck him, sending him flying. His health bar vanished instantly, a one-hit kill!


    Hint: You have gained 118 Experience Points, and 9 coins.


    As Jiang Liu made his move, with a single gesture, he knocked the Reception Monk of the Guanyin Zen Temple unconscious. This caused an uproar among the visitors, and for a moment, the scene descended into chaos.


    Naturally, the response from Guanyin Zen Temple was swift. In just a moment, several young Martial Monks rushed out.


    However, the Martial Monks who charged out weren''t particrly skilled; most of them were merely at the Meridian Unblocking Realm, meaning they were merely above level 10.


    With the Green Lotus Staff in hand, Jiang Liu entered the fray like a tiger among sheep. In no time at all, he knocked monk after monk unconscious with his staff.


    "Hehehe, Master, not bad, truly befitting of one who seeks enlightenment through ughter," Sun Wukong said, looking on excitedly as Jiang Liuunched into action, while sitting on the White Dragon Horse''s back.


    What was there to talk about? If they wouldn''t let him in, then he would simply fight his way through, how simple was that?


    In the past, when he went to the Dragon Pce of the Eastern Sea to seek weapons, hadn''t the shrimp soldiers and crab generals also blocked his path? He had fought his way through!


    "s, Senior Brother, as the saying goes, ''Flood waters wash over the Dragon King''s Temple; it isn''t ideal for Master to take action in the Guanyin Zen Temple, after all, we are all disciples of the Buddhist Sect...''" However, the White Dragon Horse, watching the scene before it, sighed.


    "First we fight, then we''ll talk; who cares if it''s good or not," Sun Wukong replied dismissively to the White Dragon Horse''sment.


    For those who seek enlightenment through ughter, more fighting means greater strength, and since he and his Master had agreed to go to the Western Heaven to turn the deities on their heads, Sun Wukong naturallypletely supported Jiang Liu''s actions.


    However, as arge Zen temple, Guanyin Zen Temple naturally wouldn''t only have disciples with low Cultivation Levels. Soon, several middle-aged monks appeared, all clearly possessing noteworthy cultivation.


    "Cease your actions..." A hoarse voice called out. Although it wasn''t loud, it clearly reached everyone''s ears. Simultaneously, an Old Monk walked out at a leisurely pace.


    "We pay our respects to the Abbot!" As the Old Monk stepped out, all the monks in the area shouted in unison.


    "We pay our respects to Holy Monk Jinchi!" At the same time, the believers in the temple also called out in chorus.


    "So, this is Jinchi?" Jiang Liu''s gaze fell upon the Old Monk, his eyes taking in every detail.


    He looked very old, hunched over, with Holy Monk Jinchi appearing short and thin. Indeed, he was a match for Sun Wukong in stature, his face etched with wrinkles.


    Yet he was dressed in a kasaya edged with gold thread, his neck adorned with a strand of white jade Buddha beads, and each of his ten fingers was decorated with rings set with various gemstones that scintited brilliantly. At a nce, the whole person seemed to be bathed in the splendor of jewels.


    "Amitabha Buddha, from whence do youe, Monk? Why are you causing such disturbance in my temple for no reason?" Jinchi, looking rather ancient and leaning on a cane, took small steps towards Jiang Liu, raising his eyes to have a look at him as he spoke.


    "This humble monk hails from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, bearing the Emperor of Tang''s decree to journey to the Western Heaven in search of scripture. Passing by the sacred temple, I wished to pay my respects to Buddha..." Jiang Liu began, repeating the exnation he had given earlier.


    "Abbot, don''t believe him; look at his poor and shabby appearance..." a nearby monk said, chiming in.


    However, Jinchi simply waved his hand and said, "Since we are all disciples of the Buddhist Sect, stay and partake in a meal before you leave. Yes, after the meal, while it''s still daylight, you can continue your journey to the West. I will not detain you."


    "Are they treating me like a beggar?"


    Jinchi''s words were clearly an offer of charity, as if giving him a meal and then telling him to hurry on his way. This caused the corner of Jiang Liu''s mouth to twitch slightly.

 Chapter 116 Forcing Me to Show Off

    Pfft!


    As Elder Jinchi finished speaking, the White Dragon Horse at his side nearly burst into uncontrobleughter.


    Feeling Jiang Liu''s gaze on him, the White Dragon Horse quickly lowered his gaze, pretending to be serious, as if theughter had note from his horse mouth just a moment ago.


    But the White Dragon Horse found the current situation quite amusing.


    After having received Guanyin''s enlightenment and transformed into a white horse to serve as his steed, he had tly refused, causing the horse no end of trouble and forcing it to shamelessly follow along. And now, to see the Scripture Seeker denied entry and given a meal out of pity, as if he were someone simply seeking free food...


    Seeing the displeasure on Jiang Liu''s face, the White Dragon Horse felt quite satisfied.


    "Master, if they do not wee us, let''s just leave. Why bother staying here and being insulted?" Sun Wukong, feeling irritated, pped the White Dragon Horse and immediately said to Jiang Liu.


    "I see you really don''t like eating other people''s food," Jiang Liu said to Sun Wukong, irritated.


    With his personality, how could he be so agreeable? It seemed that the main reason was that he did not enjoy other people''s cooking.


    "Ah, a demon, there''s a demon..." The believers in the Guanyin Zen Temple gasped in horror when Sun Wukong spoke with the artiction of a human. Without speaking, it would have been fine, but a monkey that could speak humannguage? If that wasn''t a demon, what was?


    "Well, well, what have we here? A wild monk associating with demons!" Already quite displeased with Jiang Liu''s actions in the Guanyin Zen Temple, several martial monks stepped forward, their faces darkened as they spoke, believing they had seized upon a fault.


    "Wait... wait a moment..."


    However, at this point, Elder Jinchi once again spoke up. Squinting through aged eyes, he scrutinized Jiang Liu, mainly focusing on the Vidyaraja Crown on his head, and said, "Our Buddhist disciples are devoted to self-cultivation and cleanliness; it''s impossible for them to consort with demons.


    I see that you, little monk, wear the robes and the monk hat, but your behavior hardly resembles that of our Buddhist sect. Could you be an imposter?"


    Elder Jinchi cared greatly about his own reputation and that of the Buddhist Sect. He had assumed Jiang Liu was simply a wandering monk and thought nothing of offering him a meal; after all, it was a matter of Buddhistpassion.


    But now, seeing him in thepany of a demon, Elder Jinchi began to doubt Jiang Liu''s identity.


    If it turned out that he was an imposter, and with the demon present, they couldn''t let today''s events¡ªwhere both the demon and the monk who tarnished the reputation of the Buddhist Sect¡ªgo unpunished.


    As a highly revered monk with eight Incense Scar Initiations and two centuries of life, Elder Jinchi''s authority was naturally immense, as could be inferred from the fact that people referred to him as Holy Monk.


    At his words, the worshippers around began to view Jiang Liu with suspicion; indeed, with such behavior, he scarcely resembled a disciple of the Buddhist Sect.


    "The Abbot speaks the truth!"


    Two martial monks of the Guanyin Zen Temple, also in agreement, nodded their heads, saying, "Judging by his actions, he is indeed unruly and aggressive, whichpletely contradicts the serenity of our Buddhist teachings. Furthermore, by associating with a demon, it''s obvious he is not a disciple of our sect."


    "Hey, you monk, if you''ve got the guts, take off your monk hat and let us see if you have the Scar of Precepts on your head," the Martial Monk said loudly to Jiang Liu at the end of his taunt.


    "Exactly, you say you''re a monk, let''s see you remove that monk hat and show us!" At the same time, other monks from Guanyin Zen Temple and even the devotees, all spoke up in unison, raising their voices.


    For a moment, Jiang Liu became the target of everyone''s usations.


    "You bald donkeys, aren''t you too full of yourselves? Just because you tell my master to take off his hat, should he just do it?" Jumping off the back of the White Dragon Horse, Sun Wukong, catching the condescending gazes, red at everyone with an untamed look and retorted.


    While speaking, Sun Wukong turned his head to Jiang Liu, "Master, let''s go. There''s no need to lower ourselves to their level, a bunch of ignorant fools. And they think we''re here to freeload a meal? How good could their food possibly be?"


    "Monkey, thatst part of what you said is the real reason you want to leave, isn''t it?" Jiang Liu cast a sideways nce at Sun Wukong and said, not hiding his irritation.


    After making a sarcastic remark about Sun Wukong, Jiang Liu didn''t pay him further attention but looked over all the presentpany before his gaze settled on Elder Jinchi. "Holy Monk Jinchi, I think there''s been some misunderstanding. Wukong is not a demon; the reason he''s following this poor monk on the Journey to the West is that he was enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin."


    "Hahaha..." Jiang Liu''s words might have been better left unsaid¡ªas soon as he finished, the monks around them burst intoughter as if they had heard something ridiculous.


    "Little Monk, open your eyes and look carefully. What is the name of our temple? Guanyin Zen Temple. Do you think that by invoking the name of Bodhisattva Guanyin, you can scare us?" a monk said pointedly to Jiang Liu.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I see this Little Monk truly has a knack for telling tall tales. One moment he ims to be on a scripture-seeking mission by the order of the Emperor of Tang, the next he says this demon has been enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin. What next? Will he im to be a disciple of Tathagata himself? His exaggerations are getting more and more outrageous," another monk sneered with a scoffing tone.


    "Amitabha, say less, everyone, cough cough... Monastics should refrain from speaking falsely..." Hearing the monks of his Zen Temple getting more and more exaggerated, and indeed feeling that it was rather embarrassing, Elder Jinchi coughed a few times to silence them.


    Then, Elder Jinchi''s gaze once again fell upon Jiang Liu, saying, "Monastics should not speak untruths; I see you spouting nonsense and behaving erratically, besides keeping thepany of demon kind. You are definitely not a member of the Buddhist Sect. You wish to impersonate a Buddhist Disciple for more than just a simple vegetarian meal, don''t you? Speak, what is your real purpose?"


    "I must say, the ability to let one''s imagination run wild is truly frightening, but what''s more frightening is that you people take your fantasies for reality and believe them without a doubt."


    Seeing how the monks from Guanyin Zen Temple, including Elder Jinchi, looked at him with suspicion, Jiang Liu sighed helplessly.


    "Enough talk, if you truly are a Buddhist Disciple, let us see the Scar of Precepts on your head," Elder Jinchi said with finality, not interested in further idle chatter with Jiang Liu.


    "So be it. Since you all want to see, this poor monk will let you see."


    Jiang Liu shook his head reluctantly, then ced his hands on the Vidyaraja Crown and slowly removed it.


    At that moment, Jiang Liu indeed felt very reluctant. All he had wanted was to enter Guanyin Zen Temple peacefully and follow the plot of the original story, spending some days there. Was that too much to ask for?


    Why stare down upon me and drive me away?


    Isn''t this forcing me to show off so I can stay?


    As the Vidyaraja Crown was slowly removed, the twelve Scars of Precepts on his head were exposed for all to see...

 Chapter 117 Isnt this plot a bit off?

    All eyes fell upon Jiang Liu, whether they were believers who hade to Guanyin Zen Temple or the monks of the temple itself, all had their eyes wide open.


    With behavior like his, he really did not seem to be a monk, so the question was whether his head would bear the Scars of Precepts or not?


    Silence!


    As Jiang Liu removed the Vidyaraja Crown, the entire Guanyin Zen Temple fell into a death-like silence, and everyone, both monks and believers, stared with wide eyes as if they had seen a ghost, mouths agape wide enough to fit an entire fist, as gasps echoed intermittently.


    With a thump, Elder Jinchi''s staff dropped to the ground. His eyes, slightly squinted and somewhat cloudy, were now wide open, and his body began to tremble slightly.


    Looking at Jiang Liu''s imusibly youthful face, and seeing the full twelve Scars of Precepts on his head, everyone was dumbfounded, feeling as if their minds had gonepletely nk.


    "Ten... twelve Scars of Precepts... Am I seeing this correctly?" Inside the Guanyin Zen Temple, an old believer who hade to offer incense murmured softly in disbelief after seeing the twelve Scars of Precepts on Jiang Liu''s head.


    For them, the eight Scars of Precepts on Elder Jinchi''s head were already a rare sight in their lifetime; they had never imagined that today they would witness a monk with a full twelve Scars of Precepts, something utterly unheard of.


    "This, this is impossible. How can someone have twelve Scars of Precepts on their head?" A martial monk, unable to believe what he saw, looked at Jiang Liu, whose twelve Scars of Precepts nearly covered his entire head. The monk then touched his own head, which bore only two Scars of Precepts.


    "Ah... Amitabha..." Elder Jinchi, who had lived for over two hundred years, was shocked by the twelve Scars of Precepts on Jiang Liu''s head. However, after remaining silent for a long time, he managed topose himself and muttered the Buddha''s name with some difficulty.


    Immediately, he bowed and knelt in Jiang Liu''s direction.


    "Abbot!" Seeing the behavior of Elder Jinchi, the monks of Guanyin Zen Temple were shocked. At the same time, a middle-aged monk hurried over and helped Elder Jinchi to his feet.


    "Abbot, even if he possesses twelve Scars of Precepts and has profound Buddhist affinity, we are all disciples of the Buddhist Sect. Why do you need to pay such respect and kneel to him?"


    With the help of the martial monk, Elder Jinchi, somewhat helplessly said, "Well... that... I, I was just picking up my staff."


    ...


    "Holy Monk Xuanzang hase from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, and visitors from afar are guests. Please take a seat at the table," said Elder Jinchi in the Guanyin Zen Temple, where he had specially prepared a table of exquisite vegetarian dishes. He personally took a seat at the end of the table and said to Jiang Liu.


    Compared to the condescending manner before, Elder Jinchi''s attitude hadpletely changed after Jiang Liu took off the Vidyaraja Crown and revealed the twelve Scars of Precepts on his head.


    "Amitabha, I have heard that the Heavenly Empire of Great Tang is a blessed country. A year ago, a disciple with twelve Scars of Precepts appeared. However, I was not well-informed and did not know that Mage Xuanzang had received enlightenment from Bodhisattva Guanyin and was heading to the Western Spirit Mountain to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. I truly envy you.


    If it were not for my old bones being so frail, I would wish to apany you to the Western Heaven to meet the Buddha," he said.


    "Since the Mage hase to the Guanyin Zen Temple, and is guided by Bodhisattva Guanyin, as the abbot of the temple, it is only right for me to offer you the best hospitality. A Zen Room has already been prepared for you and your disciple to rest, and rest assured, we will take good care of your steeds as well..."


    During the meal, Elder Jinchi was very enthusiastic in speaking with Jiang Liu. Clearly, in the Buddhist Sect, the number of Scars of Precepts on one''s head indicated the depth of one''s Buddhist affinity. Jiang Liu, with his twelve Scars of Precepts, had a level of Buddhist affinity that was indeed rare throughout history.


    "I thank you, Elder Jinchi," Jiang Liu said, bringing his hands together in thanks.


    Although he was somewhat uneasy with the other''s sudden shift from arrogant to obsequious, there is a saying about not smiting the smiling face that reaches out. Now that he was eating the vegetarian meal prepared by the Guanyin Zen Temple, it was not appropriate for Jiang Liu to show displeasure.


    "Ptui, how tasteless..." Sun Wukong, however, after chewing a few mouthfuls of cabbage, didn''t hesitate to spit it right out onto the dining table.


    While Jiang Liu might still care about etiquette, Sun Wukong was quite straightforward. When he was pleased, it showed; when he was displeased, it was just as obvious. Unconcerned with offending those around him, he spat the unappetizing food straight onto the table.


    Then he reached out to the table, picked up a peach, and turned away from the table.


    "Alright, Master, your disciple can''t get used to these meals, so I won''t eat, going to see how Xiaobai is doing," holding a peach, Sun Wukong limped out.


    "This...," watching Sun Wukong''s dismissive manner, Elder Jinchi felt somewhat embarrassed.


    "I apologize, my mischievous disciple is naturally stubborn, and being a monkey species, he favors fruits. Thus, it''s no surprise that the meals don''t suit his taste," seeing Elder Jinchi''s embarrassed expression, Jiang Liu smiled slightly and gracefully smoothed things over.


    "It''s alright, it was myck of consideration," hearing Jiang Liu''s words, Elder Jinchi''s expression cleared slightly.


    Eating the meals? Well, the food of this era was mostly cooked and boiled, so indeed, the taste was somewhat inferior to stir-fried dishes. Besides, this ce had long been outside the borders of Great Tang, and dietary habits also varied. In fact, Jiang Liu himself didn''t find the meal very ptable either, so it wasn''t surprising that Sun Wukong reacted that way.


    However, at this moment, Jiang Liu lingered at the dining table not because he wanted to eat more but because he was waiting for the plot to advance.


    Shouldn''t Elder Jinchi soon start showing off his collection of treasured kasayas?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But now that Sun Wukong had left, would he have to be the one to broach the subject of the kasayas?


    They chatted back and forth for half a Chinese hour, and the food on the table was almost finished. Yet Elder Jinchi still showed no intention of unting his treasures, leaving Jiang Liu feeling a little impatient.


    "Ahem, Elder Jinchi, seeing as how the Guanyin Zen Temple is so splendidly decorated, I presume the temple is quite wealthy?" Since Elder Jinchi wasn''t unting his wealth, Jiang Liu coughed twice, feeling it was better to provide some subtle prompting.


    "Oh, I understand, understand¡­," Yet, upon hearing Jiang Liu''s words, Elder Jinchi suddenly seemed to realize something and gave a meaningful look to a monk beside him.


    "Understand what?" Looking at Elder Jinchi''s shared nce with the departing monk, Jiang Liu becamepletely confused.


    Could it be? He''s getting some treasured kasayas?


    A momentter, the departed monk returned, carrying a tray covered with a red cloth, and ced it on the dining table.


    "Holy Monk of Great Tang, you didn''t hesitate to travel a thousand miles through remote mountains. It seems your provisions might be exhausted, no? Here, I have one hundred taels of gold, and I hope the Holy Monk will not decline¡­" Elder Jinchi removed the red cloth from the tray, revealing ten hefty gold ingots.


    "Elder Jinchi is mistaken, I am not here to ask for provisions."


    Looking at the gold pushed towards him, Jiang Liu''s lips twitched slightly before he said, "It''s just that along the way, I happened to hear themon people mention Elder has collected a number of exquisite treasured kasayas, so I thought¡­"


    "Oh, I see now," but before Jiang Liu could finish, Elder Jinchi again looked as if he''d suddenly understood.


    "Your kasaya is worn out, and it so happens that I have indeed taken in a few kasayas. Though they can''t really be considered treasures, they certainly cannot match the rich materials from the Heavenly Empire. If the Holy Monk doesn''t mind, why not visit my Treasure Room where I keep the kasayas? If there''s one that catches your eye, I''d be happy to gift you a few¡­"


    Jiang Liu: "¡­"


    This development seems a bit off, doesn''t it? What happened to the old monk who loved to show off his wealth?


    Why is he so generous and enthusiastic? Can this trial even continue?


    (PS: By the way, has it been a while since I''ve asked for rmendation tickets? Are you holding them back for something special? Toss them my way¡­)

 Chapter 118 The True Purpose of Little White Dragon

    Guanyin Zen Temple, in the grand hall, a statue of Guanyin adorned with golden light towered, majestic and resplendent, imparting a feeling of solemnity and nobility.


    Although the sky had darkened and the reception of pilgrims at Guanyin Zen Temple had already ceased, Jiang Liu and Jinchi were seated nearby partaking in a vegetarian meal, yet there were still a few monks bustling about in therge hall.


    For instance, cleaning, and then there was therge merit box from which all the silver coins had to be taken out.


    Tip-tap, tip-tap...


    Just when a few monks were in the midst of opening the merit box, suddenly, crisp footsteps echoed from the green rock bs outside the great hall, as if someone were tapping on the ground with stones, certainly not the sound of ordinary footsteps.


    This gave the monks a moment of pause.


    As they turned their heads back around, they happened to see an extraordinarily divine white horse appear and then directly lift its legs to stride into the grand Guanyin Hall.


    "Eh? Isn''t this Master Xuanzang''s steed?" the monks in the hall were surprised to see the white horse walking into the Guanyin Hall.


    Weren''t there other brothers tasked with taking good care of the white horse? Why let it run into the great hall?


    Shaking their heads, although feeling it was somewhat improper for their brothers to not even properly look after a horse, since the white horse had barged into the hall, they would simply lead it back to the stable.


    "It truly is worthy of being Master Xuanzang''s mount, even leaving the stable, it knows toe into this great hall," one of the monks couldn''t help but joke as he watched the white horse enter the hall.


    "Hahaha, indeed, Master Xuanzang is indeed a high monk who has earned twelve scars of precepts, possessing such a Buddhist affinity. Perhaps in the future, he might indeed achieve Buddhahood or Arhatship in the Western Heaven?" joined in another monk,ughing and nodding along with the jesting remark.


    In the midst of speaking, this monk put down the merit box he was holding, preparing to go and lead the horse.


    However, he had only taken two steps when he froze, his expression one of utter confusion.


    It turned out that the white horse that walked into the grand hall paid no heed to their words but instead walked on its own ord to the front of the statue of Guanyin. Then, its front legs knelt down, precisely onto the meditation cushion, and it lowered its head, adopting the posture of kneeling and bowing in worship.


    "What? Has Master Xuanzang''s steed also be enlightened?" watching the white horse bow in front of the statue of Guanyin, the monks at the side murmured to each other in bewilderment.


    If it had be enlightened, that would be the end of it, for as Buddhist disciples, who hasn''t seen a few demons? The ck Bear Demon on the nearby ck Wind Mountain was a longtime good friend of the Temple Master.


    Yet, an enlightened being with such a deep understanding of Buddhism,ing on its own to bow to the Bodhisattva, was something they had never seen before, right?


    The White Dragon Horse, quietly kneeling before the statue of the Bodhisattva, its head lowered, knew all too well the struggles it faced within.


    Having been enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva, it was supposed to join the scripture-seeking team. But as things stood, it had be nameless and shamelessly followed the scripture seeker instead. Only Guanyin Bodhisattva could resolve such a predicament, and to her, the White Dragon Horse appealed for help.


    The White Dragon Horse knelt before the statue of the Bodhisattva, head bowed, silent.


    It also understood that there was no need for words; the Bodhisattva would surely know its current plight, as well as the purpose for which it knelt here. Believing the Bodhisattva understood, it felt no necessity to speak.


    In the great hall, the monks of the Guanyin Zen Temple looked at one another, all with expressions of astonishment on their faces. Evidently, they were all at a loss as to how to deal with this white horse kneeling before the statue of Guanyin.


    After some thought, they pondered whether they should inform Master Xuanzang about the matter.


    "Hey, Xiaobai, what are you doing here?" However, before these monks from the Guanyin Zen Temple could look for Jiang Liu, Sun Wukong had already found his way over. He looked at the White Dragon Horse kneeling in front of the statue with a curious question.


    Why would he kneel down before the statue of Guanyin for no reason?


    "Big brother, I... I want to pray for the Bodhisattva to manifest and exin to the Scripture Seeker..." Raising his head, the White Dragon Horse turned to nce at Sun Wukong and confessed honestly.


    Since passing by the Guanyin Zen Temple, naturally, he ought to earnestly plead with Bodhisattva Guanyin for favor.


    Hearing the conversation between Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse, the monks in the hall were startled. Was this monkey a demon, and this horse as well?


    They exchanged nces; being alone in a room with these demon kind made them feel unsettled. Immediately after, the monks quickly turned and left the great hall one after another, leaving only Sun Wukong and the White Dragon Horse inside.


    "Is your earnest wish to gain our master''s recognition because you want to be honored at Spirit Mountain?" Sun Wukong, ignoring the monks who had hurriedly left, cocked his head and examined the White Dragon Horse before him. After giving it some thought, he asked the question that had always made him curious.


    Logically speaking, as the Crown Prince of the Western Sea Dragon King, Little White Dragon was naturally proud. But in order to seek the Westward scriptures, he seemed willing to sacrifice all his pride. Sun Wukong had always been curious about this, but he had never asked before.


    Seeing himing to the hall alone today to worship the statue of Guanyin, Sun Wukong couldn''t help but ask out of curiosity.


    "Actually, being honored by Spirit Mountain is only part of the reason," replied the White Dragon Horse after a brief hesitation, when asked by Sun Wukong.


    "Oh? Are there other reasons? Tell me about them," Sun Wukong asked, now genuinely interested upon hearing the White Dragon Horse''s response.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Actually, I also want to redress the injustice for my maternal uncle," the White Dragon Horse considered and, perhaps trusting Sun Wukong or believing that he could help, confessed sincerely.


    "My uncle, the Dragon King of Jing River, is in charge of managing the rain. However, during a rainfall in Chang''an City, he did not follow the Jade Emperor''s orders precisely. The timing and amount of the rain were slightly off, leading to his punishment by the Jade Emperor¡ªhe suffered a sh¡­" spoke the White Dragon Horse, his voice low and solemn.


    "Hehehe, that old Jade Emperor really is heartless. Just for a slight dy and a little change in the amount of rain, he would go so far as to strike down with such severity," Sun Wukong said, baring his teeth in a sneeringugh upon hearing White Dragon Horse''s story.


    At that, Sun Wukong paused briefly, then said, "But, although the situation doesn''t seem severe, if the old Jade Emperor truly insists on upholding the punishment for this crime, it wouldn''t exactly be wronging him, would it?"


    "Indeed, if it were just that, it wouldn''t be an injustice. But, the matter of bringing rain was within the borders of Chang''an, and my uncle had already received forgiveness from the Human Emperor. Despite that, he was still killed. There must have been something fishy about it," the White Dragon Horse continued.


    The words were true; when a task assigned by the Jade Emperor went wrong, it was correct to hold someone ountable. Yet, when the rain was mistaken and Chang''an City suffered, the Human Emperor could be considered a victim. Since forgiveness was obtained from the Human Emperor, the incident could be counted as a fault but not a crime.


    As the saying goes, "Without a intiff, there is no judge."


    The Dragon King of Jing River having received the Human Emperor''s forgiveness couldrgely be seen as a private settlement, yet he was still executed, which is why Little White Dragon found the situation very suspicious.


    "Unfortunately, my words carry little weight, and I am also burdened with guilt. Therefore, even though I want to investigate the truth for my uncle, I am willing in spirit but weak in power. That''s why, big brother, I am hoping for this Western journey''s honor to be cleansed of this guilt, so I might have the power to investigate the truth for my uncle."


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