Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

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"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 this land, I pay my respects to the Holy Monk," the Local Deity with white hair and beard, after placing 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 glanced 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 explained, 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 explanation, showing no intention of staying and excused himself.

"Wait, Local Deity, since you've come, 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, laughing scornfully as he spoke.

"I don't like what you've said," Jiang Liu turned to glance at Sun Wukong as the Monkey initiated the conversation and responded, "According 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 even compare 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, every last one of you deserves to die!" Jiang Liu's words seemed to ignite Sun Wukong's ferocity, and a fierce light flashed 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 flashed with light, and the mountain that Sun Wukong had slightly lifted pressed down again heavily, immobilizing him completely.

"Sss..." Seeing this, Jiang Liu stepped back in shock, watching the Monkey trapped beneath the mountain in awe.

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 Wukong lay 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.

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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."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Monkey, I know you're not asleep. Here's another banana; I've placed it by your side."

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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 just lay on the ground, offering no response.

Shaking his head to himself and noting the lateness of the hour, Jiang Liu placed 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, place 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 accumulating 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 hoop lay 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 become 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, after completing 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 these last few days?"