Chapter 648: Kick the Buddha, Snatch the Guanyin

Legend has it that many years ago, an ancient demon named Chaos awakened in Nanshan Buzhou.

Chaos was tyrannical by nature, fond of slaughter, and devoured hundreds of thousands of the Human Race, incurring monstrous karmic debt.

Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals who surrounded and suppressed it instead became blood-food in its mouth, later alarming the Nine Heavens Demon-Quelling Patriarch, also known as the legendary True Martial Great Emperor.

The True Martial Great Emperor engaged Chaos in battle, and neither could claim victory.

This was because Chaos could maintain immortality through the consumption of death energy, ancient resentment, and zombie Qi.

Ordinary magical treasures had almost no effect on it and could not cause damage.

Therefore, the True Martial Great Emperor later went to Tushita Palace and borrowed the Seven-Star Sword from Taishang Laojun!

The Seven-Star Sword is a sword for eliminating demons; its Seven-Star Sword Qi connects with the Beidou Qixing, the sword Qi forms an array, and it draws upon the power of the stars to destroy demons, possessing unparalleled might.

Under the reinforcement of the Seven-Star Sword, the ancient fierce beast Chaos was thoroughly executed.

…

Now, Jinjiao Dawang is using the Seven-Star Sword; although his cultivation is not on par with the True Martial Great Emperor, he is at least at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level, and in coordination with the power of the Seven-Star Sword, he is not in the slightest bit weaker than Wukong's Golden Cudgel.

"Stable Keeper, watch the sword!"

Jinjiao Dawang grinned hideously; every time he swung the Seven-Star Sword, it would connect with the power of the Beidou Qixing.

Under the reinforcement of the seven stars beyond the heavens, the Seven-Star Sword Qi was unstoppable, like a bamboo being split.

Boom!

But Wukong is no ordinary minor demon; his cultivation might not be the highest, but his combat awareness is definitely in the top ten across the Three Realms.

Jinjiao Dawang held the upper hand for a moment by relying on the sharpness of the Seven-Star Sword, but wanting to defeat Wukong just like that was simply a fantasy.

"Master, that dead monkey won't lose, will he? Laojun's Seven-Star Sword is no worse than the Golden Cudgel."

Zhu Bajie whispered in his ear again, seemingly not optimistic about Wukong.

"Bajie, have faith in Wukong. After all, Wukong is the Great Saint Equal to Heaven," Xuanzang said.

"That's right, Eldest Brother is the Great Saint Equal to Heaven," Xiaobailong echoed.

Bajie was unimpressed and instead said:

"Great Saint Equal to Heaven, pfft, it's all just empty fame. Back when I was Fleet Admiral Tianpeng, I still ended up reincarnated as a pig; such is time, such is fate."

"This duel looks like it's between the dead monkey and that detestable Jin Jiao, but it's actually a duel between the dead monkey and Laojun; need I even say the result?"

"Sister Baigu, don't you think so!"

"Get lost!"

Baigu Furen gave Zhu Bajie a cold look, appearing quite arrogant.

"Alrighty then." Zhu Bajie retreated tactfully; he couldn't beat her anyway.

"Dinghai Strike!"

Wukong found a flaw in Jinjiao Dawang and immediately used the wish-fulfilling supernatural power taught by Xuanzang, the Dinghai Staff Technique.

That Golden Cudgel instantly transformed into a pillar reaching the heavens, standing tall and firm, erupting with golden light; Daluo Great Power was released from within, smashing down like a blanket covering the sky.

"Seven-Star Sword Array!"

Seeing this, Jinjiao Dawang hurriedly unleashed the secret technique of the Seven-Star Sword.

From the heavens, the Heavenly Pivot Star, Heavenly Rotating Star, Heavenly Pearl Star, Heavenly Authority Star, Jade Balance Star, Opening Yang Star, and Shaking Light Star were drawn by the Seven-Star Sword, releasing starlight one after another, connecting together to form a massive Seven-Star Sword pattern that dove down from the sky to slash!

The momentum of this sword was extraordinary; an ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortal would likely find it difficult to withstand.

Yet Wukong was not afraid at all, holding the Golden Cudgel, which was as large as the sky and earth, and thrusting it toward the firmament!

The power of the Dinghai Strike and the Seven-Star Sword Array converged; for a moment, the massive energy caused the heavens and earth within a radius of ten thousand miles to lose their color, and the surging magic power swept across all directions like a storm, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and howling winds.

"God Elephant Prison Suppressing!"

After the Dinghai Strike, Wukong once again unleashed the Qigong secret technique, the God Elephant Prison Suppressing; over ten million particles in his body vibrated in unison, and the power of the dragon-elephant roared, resounding through the heavens.

After advancing to Great Luo Golden Immortal, Wukong's God Elephant Prison Suppressing also upgraded accordingly; the original one million or so Shenxiang Particles later surged directly to ninety million.

This was only the beginning; the God Elephant Prison Suppressing for an Acquired Living Being can open up a maximum of four hundred and eighty million particles.

If Wukong were to cultivate a little and go into seclusion for a period of time, relying on his Great Luo foundation, he could easily break through one hundred million Shenxiang Particles.

Moreover, as a being with the origin of a Nuwa Stone, the number of Shenxiang Particles Wukong can open is many times that of an ordinary human, with a limit of as many as one billion two hundred and forty-nine million, conforming to the number of a Yuan.

The so-called "a Yuan begins anew, ten thousand phenomena are renewed!"

A Yuan also represents an infinite cycle, without limits.

Originally, the Dinghai Strike and the Seven-Star Sword Array were evenly matched, but after erupting with the great power of the God Elephant Prison Suppressing, the Dharma Aspect of the Chaos Demon Ape, condensed entirely from the power of the God Elephant, shattered the Seven-Star Sword Array with a single punch without any obstruction!

Pfft!

Jinjiao Dawang was directly shaken to the point of vomiting blood by this peerless force.

At the same time, the Great Abilities of the Three Realms were shocked.

Since when did Wukong possess such a tyrannical supernatural power?

That heaven-reaching and earth-shattering power of the God Elephant roared at the firmament; with just a light stomp, the Eighteen Levels of Hell directly wailed, as if they had seen something terrifying.

Wukong rested the Golden Cudgel on his shoulder and said proudly: "Jin Jiao, do you concede or not? Was my Golden Cudgel tasty? If you don't open your eyes, I'll give you another strike."

"Big Brother, why don't we just surrender," Yinjiao Dawang couldn't help but shout upon seeing Jin Jiao injured.

In fact, doing this much for this tribulation was already enough; such an intense battle, shocking the heavens and making the spirits weep, it would be unreasonable for the Heavenly Dao not to acknowledge it.

But Jin Jiao happened to lose his temper and waved his hand: "Second Brother, say no more. We are both Great Luo Golden Immortals; I do not believe I cannot handle the Sun Houzi, and I cannot disgrace the reputation of the Master."

After speaking, Jin Jiao thought rapidly in his heart.

The Seven-Star Sword could no longer do anything to Wukong; he still had the magical treasures: the Banana Leaf Fan, the Suet Jade Purifying Bottle, the Binding Immortal Rope, and the Purple Gold Gourd.

Although this Banana Leaf Fan could blow up the Taiyin Gale and possessed great power, it had little effect on a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The Binding Immortal Rope was the same; it could bind immortals and demons, but at the level of a Great Luo, it was of little significance, and having witnessed the terror of the God Elephant Prison Suppressing, it was not something the Binding Immortal Rope could handle.

In the end, only the Suet Jade Purifying Bottle and the Purple Gold Gourd remained; Jin Jiao knew which one to use just by looking at these two treasures.

Naturally, it is the Purple Gold Gourd; one is an Innate Spirit Treasure and the other a Postnatal Spirit Treasure, so the Purple Gold Gourd surely has the greater advantage.

Legend has it that the Purple Gold Gourd was plucked by the Taiqing Saint from the Innate Gourd Vine beneath Buzhou Mountain before he became a Saint.

An Innate Spirit Treasure, even one that is difficult for a Saint to wear down, possesses unpredictable power.

Thinking of this, Jinjiao Dawang took the Purple Gold Gourd from the cloak at his waist, holding it in his hand for a moment.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong laughed and said:

"Heh heh, what is it? The Seven-Star Sword didn't work against old Sun, so you've switched to a gourd?"

"Sun Wukong, don't be smug. This is my supreme treasure; never mind you, even if the Buddha from the Western Heaven came, he would be taken inside. I advise you to surrender obediently," Jin Jiao said proudly.

He was naturally saying this on purpose, intending to goad Sun Wukong.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong thought to himself: "Even Rulai can be taken inside? Is it really that powerful? If this treasure were obtained by old Sun, heh heh."

"Who can't talk big? Old Sun thinks it's just for show and useless."

Sun Wukong stood with his hands on his hips, looking like he feared nothing in heaven or on earth.

"This damn monkey," Zhu Bajie muttered.

Jinjiao Dawang opened the gourd stopper, silently recited a spell, and shouted loudly:

"Sun Wukong, if I call your name, do you dare to answer?"

Sun Wukong's eyes rolled, and he secretly thought: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cub?"

He then replied:

"Why wouldn't I dare? Good grandson, your grandfather is here."

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Sun Wukong respond, Jinjiao Dawang immediately burst into loud laughter.

Sure enough, the mouth of the Purple Gold Gourd vibrated, and a terrifying power of Devour erupted; this power of Devour covered Sun Wukong, and no matter how vast Sun Wukong's magical powers were, he could not break free from the power of Devour at this moment.

In a sense, the Purple Gold Gourd is a rule-based treasure; once you answer, you cannot break free from its power to Devour and contain, not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Under this power of Devour, Sun Wukong's body became smaller and smaller, finally turning into a wisp of smoke and being taken into the Purple Gold Gourd.

"Hahahaha!"

Jinjiao Dawang continued to laugh wildly, looking indescribably smug.

So much for the Great Sage Equal to Heaven; wasn't he still dealt with by him?

What is the use of having high magic power?

When you're out in the world, you rely on your background and foundation!

"It's all over, the damn monkey still fell," Zhu Bajie said.

"Bajie, pack the luggage," Xuanzang said calmly.

"What? What do you mean? Master, don't tell me you want to split the luggage," Zhu Bajie asked, feeling inexplicably happy.

If they were splitting the luggage, wouldn't he be able to return to Gao Village to see Cuilan?

Although Cuilan had cheated on him, he was a pig dedicated to pure love; what was a little color to him?

To suffer the bitterness of bitterness is to become the pig above pigs!

Xuanzang gave Bajie a sharp look and said:

"Split what luggage? Naturally, it's about honoring a bet. Since Wukong lost, we shall stay in Lotus Cave for ten years."

"??" Zhu Bajie.

Xiaobailong, however, ran over and grabbed Yinjiao Dawang by the collar, saying viciously:

"My master is going to stay in your cave dwelling, why haven't you come out to welcome him?"

"?"

Yinjiao Dawang was stunned, then immediately reacted and called over the seven or eight minor demons nearby to hurry and welcome them.

These seven or eight minor demons were also sharp; they simply brought out a tiger-skin sedan chair and said with fawning smiles:

"Holy Monk, please take your seat."

Xuanzang was very satisfied with this and sat on the sedan chair, entering Lotus Cave like a mountain king.

"Master is always so unexpected and unfathomable; I admire him, I admire him," Zhu Bajie sighed.

Meanwhile, Jinjiao Dawang stood on the mountain ridge, left alone in the cold wind.

He seemed to have won, yet seemed not to have won, and he had even invited an ancestor back.

Realizing it belatedly, he suddenly understood that Xuanzang seemed to be staying here for ten years, and he couldn't help but gasp, his head throbbing with pain.

It's over, it's over; although he had completed the task entrusted by Laojun, it seemed he had been too clever by half and had also offended Buddhism.

The Scripture Seeking only had so much time; now that he had kept them here for ten years, wouldn't the Great Abilities of Buddhism want to wipe him out directly?

And looking at the current situation, Xuanzang even seemed to be enjoying these ten years?

…

"Holy Monk, please have some tea."

Yinjiao Dawang nodded and bowed as he brought over a bowl of tea, appearing quite attentive and polite.

There was no help for it; who told Xuanzang to have such hard fists? He simply couldn't beat him.

Seeing this, Zhu Bajie wore a look of mockery and said: "Little Yin, come on, our master is the Imperial Brother of the Great Tang Emperor; what status, what position! The tea he drinks is all bestowed by the Emperor—priceless and rare.

What is this tea of yours? Plain water?"

Yinjiao Dawang then said: "Ahem, this is mountain spring water from near Lotus Cave. Although it is mountain spring water, fortunately, there is plenty of Qi there. Over time, the spring water has accumulated quite a bit of spiritual power; mortals who drink it will live a long life, and cultivators who drink it will increase their magic power."

"Really? Give me a barrel too," Zhu Bajie said immediately.

"Fine... this damn pig."

Yinjiao Dawang agreed on the surface, but in his heart, he was cursing Zhu Bajie for being shameless.

"You are thoughtful."

Xuanzang picked it up and took a sip; the tea was indeed sweet and refreshing upon entering the mouth, flowing down the throat, smooth and silky, seeping into the heart.

Before long, Jinjiao Dawang walked in with a complicated heart, and seeing Xuanzang being served like an ancestor, he felt even more mixed emotions.

He had thought he was very clever, but he did not expect this to be a trap set by Xuanzang.

Regardless of winning or losing, Xuanzang would not suffer a loss, and he had even accurately shifted the blame onto someone else.

Jinjiao Dawang opened the Purple-Gold Gourd and released Sun Wukong; as soon as Sun Wukong came out, he only felt stars dancing before his eyes, his body swaying, unable to find his center of gravity for a moment.

Xuanzang reached out and tapped a bit of magic power to help Sun Wukong stabilize.

Sun Wukong fixed his eyes on his surroundings, probably already understanding something, and said embarrassedly:

"Master, I, old Sun, have lost face for you; I lost the contest."

"It is no matter; failure is the mother of success. Just remember the lesson and keep trying," Xuanzang said calmly.

"You dead monkey, although Master doesn't blame you, you can't just relax like this. You must know that all of us are stuck here for ten years because of this," Zhu Bajie said.

"Heh, you idiot. You're happy to not have to travel for ten years, aren't you! Acting as if it's such a huge loss," Sun Wukong retorted.

"I will just take advantage of these ten years to properly train my muscles here," Xiaobailong said with a straight face.

"I am fine with whatever, as long as there is cola and honey to eat, and I can follow Master to learn Buddhist Dharma," Heixiong said.

"I have lived through hundreds of thousands of years; ten years makes no difference," Baigu Furen said.

"..." Jinjiao Dawang.

Only now, having direct contact with the Scripture Seeking Group, did he realize how negative this group of people was toward the Scripture Seeking.

If they really stayed in the Lotus Cave for ten years, he feared the Western Heaven would go straight to Tushita Palace to cause trouble.

Jinjiao Dawang lowered his posture, bowed his head, and said in a conciliatory tone: "Holy Monk, the Scripture Seeking to the Western Heaven is for the sake of saving all living beings and relieving the suffering of the common people. The previous bet was just a whim; do not take it seriously. Compared to saving the common people, that bet is worthless. Actually, you can leave now; I will absolutely not stop you."

"Bah, you monster, are you trying to make Master a man who does not keep his word?" Xiaobailong said aggressively.

"No, it is for the sake of the common people to seek the scriptures."

Jin Jiao hurriedly explained; although he was a Great Luo Golden Immortal, after seeing Xiaobailong's large muscles, he could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

"Wukong, you tell him what your master seeks the scriptures for?" Xuanzang said.

"Of course, it is to save all living beings," Sun Wukong said without thinking.

"..." Xuanzang.

Bajie hurriedly stepped forward, rolled his eyes at Sun Wukong, and said irritably: "Save what, for heaven's sake? The suffering in this world can never be saved; all things revolve, and all is a cycle of Karma. Rather than begging others to save you, it is better to save yourself.

Dead monkey, remember, our master has only one goal in seeking the scriptures, and that is to kick the Buddha, stomp the Jade Emperor, and force a view..."