I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

Venus stroked his beard and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, this kid is probably a huge variable."

The journey to the West is about to get quite lively...

Inside the Hall of Fragrant Breeze, golden light shimmered, and the Jade Emperor sat high on his nine-dragon throne, his gaze sharp as he swept over the immortals below.

Jiang Wang wore a green robe with a newly acquired Hunyuan Golden Bucket hanging at his waist. His aura was restrained yet subtly revealed a sharp edge.

He stood in the hall, a half-smile playing on his lips, but his gaze kept sweeping towards the Bodhi Patriarch beside him.

Bodhi Patriarch's face was ashen, and the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo in his hand trembled slightly, clearly indicating that his anger had not yet subsided.

"Jiang Wang,"

The Jade Emperor's voice was deep and dignified, "You and Bodhi caused such a commotion in the Heavenly Court, do you know your crime?"

Jiang Wang cupped his hands, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Majesty, I was merely protecting myself."

My fellow Bodhi practitioner first attacked me with the Six Roots Purification Bamboo, and I had no choice but to use the Primordial Golden Cauldron to retaliate.

I humbly request Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly.

Bodhi Patriarch snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying, "Jiang Wang!"
Your Hunyuan Golden Cauldron is unpredictable and strange. Not only did it take away my magic weapon, it also almost injured my primordial spirit!
If I hadn't reacted quickly, would I be standing here arguing with you today?

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist Bodhi, you can't say that."

Your Six Pure Bamboo Sticks are said to be able to purify the mind and calm the spirit, and break all illusions. I just wanted to test their effectiveness.

Who knew your precious treasure would be so easily defeated? You've disappointed me.

"you!"

Patriarch Bodhi was so angry that his hair and beard stood on end, and the Six Roots Purification Bamboo in his hand flashed with light, as if he was about to make another move.

"enough!"

The Jade Emperor slammed his palm on the dragon throne, causing the celestial energy in the hall to surge and all the immortals to fall silent in fear.

“Bodhi, you are a senior master, how can you get entangled with this young man Jiang Wang? What kind of behavior is this?”
"Jiang Wang, although you are in the right, your unauthorized use of a primordial spiritual treasure and disruption of the Heavenly Court's order cannot be lightly forgiven!"

A hint of disdain flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and said respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise, and I am willing to accept the punishment."

The Jade Emperor narrowed his eyes, as if trying to figure out Jiang Wang's thoughts. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Xiaotian Dog's primordial spirit was damaged because of the fight between the two of you. He needs to be reincarnated and rebuilt."

All the necessary elixirs and materials will be provided by you, Jiang Wang.

Furthermore, you are hereby punished by serving as a gatekeeper at the Palace of the Old Man of the Moon for three months.

Upon hearing this, the immortals in the hall began to whisper among themselves.

Jiang Wang remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he sneered: "What a Jade Emperor! He punishes me on the surface, but in reality he wants to keep me away from Chang'e and delay that so-called marriage line."

Hmph, three months?
"You're seriously underestimating me, Jiang Wang."

He bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Although Bodhi Patriarch was unwilling, he knew that the Jade Emperor had already favored Jiang Wang, so he could only snort coldly and retreat.

Jiang Wang glanced at him and thought to himself, "I'll get my hands on the Bamboo of Six Roots of Purity sooner or later."

"If the Sumeru Boundless Array can be used by me, what is the Heavenly Court?"

After leaving the Hall of Fragrant Breeze, Jiang Wang walked leisurely towards the South Heavenly Gate.

As he passed by the Lingxiao Palace, he deliberately slowed his pace, his gaze sweeping over the celestial clouds outside the palace, as if searching for something.

Venus passed by and, seeing his expression, smiled and said, "Young friend Jiang, His Majesty has punished you to guard the gate of the Moon God's Palace. Do you have any complaints?"

Jiang Wang glanced at him sideways, a half-smile on his face: "Senior Taibai is joking. His Majesty is wise, and there is a reason for punishing me."

Do you think I, Jiang Wang, am someone who doesn't know what's important?

Venus stroked his beard and said meaningfully, "Young friend, you have an extraordinary character and your methods are even more skillful."

However, the Heavenly Court is a complex place, so one must be cautious in all matters.

Jiang Wang cupped his hands in greeting, too lazy to say more: "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will remember it."

After Venus had gone far away, Jiang Wang snorted coldly, and a faint light flashed in his palm, creating a clone that looked exactly like him.

He whispered his instructions: "Go to the Yue Lao Palace and guard the gate. Be respectful and don't let anyone see through your act."

I have urgent business to attend to and need to descend to the mortal realm.

The clone nodded and transformed into a streak of green light, heading straight for the Palace of the Old Man Under the Moon.

Jiang Wang then used his concealment technique to silently leave the South Heavenly Gate and head straight for the lower realm.

In a desolate mountain in the lower realm, a dilapidated Taoist temple is hidden among ancient pines. The incense has long since died out, and only a few wild sparrows chirp under the eaves.

Jiang Wang pushed open the gate of the Taoist temple and his gaze fell on a young man.

The boy was only a little over ten years old, with delicate features. He sat cross-legged on a futon, with a faint Buddhist light flowing around him. He was the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.

"Master!"

The boy opened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise, "You're back!"

Jiang Wang nodded and said gently, "Changming, have you noticed anything unusual these past few days?"

The boy shook his head and said respectfully, "There is nothing unusual. It's just that last night there was a fairy-like figure lingering at the foot of the mountain, seemingly wanting to go up, but she was blocked by the formation set up by Master."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow: "It's her again."

He walked outside the Taoist temple, raised his hand and waved it. The light screen of the shimmering array appeared and disappeared, and the spiritual energy in the array circulated, containing profound mysteries.

He sneered, "Chang'e, you're quite persistent."

Unfortunately, how could you so easily sway my mind, Jiang Wang?

After saying that, a talisman flew out from his sleeve and merged into the array, making the light of the array even brighter, with faint sounds of thunder.

He nodded in satisfaction and said to the boy, "Changming, this formation is enough to block even a Great Luo Golden Immortal. You can focus on your cultivation."

If anything unusual happens, crush the jade talisman I gave you, and I will return immediately.

The boy nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with reverence: "Disciple understands, Master, rest assured!"

Jiang Wang patted the boy's shoulder, but his gaze drifted into the distance. He murmured, "Bodhi Patriarch, the Six Roots Pure Bamboo... Hmph, if I could seize it, the Sumeru Boundless Array would help me advance further."

The Jade Emperor wants to trap me in the Moon God's Palace? No way!

Meanwhile, in the Moon Palace, Chang'e, dressed in white, leaned against the cassia tree, playing with a jade hairpin in her hand, her eyes filled with melancholy.

The jade rabbit beside her transformed into a little girl, pouting, and said, "Fairy, that Jiang Wang is clearly ungrateful. Why do you still remember him so fondly?"

Chang'e sighed softly, her gaze deep and unfathomable: "Jade Rabbit, you don't understand."

Jiang Wang is a man of extraordinary luck and unpredictable methods; even the Bodhi Patriarch suffered a loss at his hands.

If he truly falls at my feet, why should I worry about not taking things further?

The Jade Rabbit muttered indignantly, "But he set up that formation, and even you can't get in. He's clearly determined to avoid you!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of stubbornness flashed in Chang'e's eyes: "Hide?"

There is nothing in the world that I, Chang'e, cannot obtain!
No matter how cunning Jiang Wang is, he'll fall into my trap sooner or later!

She rose, waved her wide sleeves, and transformed into a beam of moonlight, heading straight for the mortal realm.

Unexpectedly, just as she reached the foot of the desolate mountain, the faint light array suddenly lit up, and a bolt of lightning struck down, forcing her to retreat in a sorry state.

She gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "Jiang Wang, you just wait!"

In the heavenly court, the Queen Mother of the West rode in her phoenix chariot and went straight to the Nuwa Palace.

The palace maidservant bowed respectfully and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Holy Mother is not in the palace today. I heard she has gone to the Thirty-Three Heavens." Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's expression changed slightly, and she said in a deep voice, "The Thirty-Three Heavens?"

When a sage goes on a journey, something important is bound to happen.

"Very well, go and deliver the message immediately: if the Emperor returns to the palace, be sure to inform me."

The fairy maidens readily agreed, but the Queen Mother frowned, wondering to herself, "What is the purpose of Nuwa's trip?"

If a sage intervenes in the affairs of the celestial realm, what kind of trouble will that brat Jiang Wang stir up?

She turned to leave, but her gaze involuntarily drifted downwards, a vague unease spreading through her heart.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang had returned to the Taoist temple, sitting cross-legged on a futon, playing with the Hunyuan Golden Bucket in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

He muttered, "The Jade Emperor, Bodhi, Chang'e... Hmph, the Heavenly Court is indeed getting more and more interesting."

"The Six Pure Bamboos—I am determined to obtain them!"

The clouds and mist outside the South Heavenly Gate are swirling, creating an ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere.

Bodhi Patriarch stood with his hands behind his back, his robes billowing slightly in the strong wind, his gaze deep, as if he were looking into the depths of the heavenly court.

A jade slip in his sleeve glowed faintly, emanating a deep and authoritative voice: "Bodhi, is Jiang Wang trapped?"

The voice carried an undeniable aura of authority; it belonged to the Sage Zhunti.

Bodhi's expression hardened, and he said in a low voice, "Reporting to Master, Jiang Wang is not yet trapped, but he is currently being punished to guard the Yue Lao Palace in the Heavenly Court and cannot leave for a moment. I am looking for an opportunity to act."

Zhunti's voice snorted coldly from within the jade slip, tinged with urgency: "There's no time to delay!"
This young man possesses extraordinary abilities; if he senses something amiss, he may teleport away prematurely.

You must quickly lure him into the immeasurable Sumeru Formation, and absolutely not give him a chance to turn the tide!

A glint of light flashed in Bodhi's eyes, and he said respectfully, "Master, rest assured, your disciple has a plan, and will surely make Jiang Wang walk right into the trap."

He put away the jade slip, looked up towards the direction of the Heavenly Court, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

Meanwhile, inside the Lingxiao Palace, golden light shone brightly, and celestial music filled the air.

The Jade Emperor sat regally on his nine-dragon throne, his face majestic, yet he could not hide the worry between his brows.

The Queen Mother stood to one side, and her benevolent avatar transformed into a wisp of light, slowly appearing beside her. Her voice was gentle yet tinged with solemnity: "Your Majesty, the Sage has returned to the Three Realms. The purple aura stretches for tens of thousands of miles, and the Western Sect, the Chan Sect, and the Jie Sect are all making moves. I fear the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or structure) of the Three Realms is about to change."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's pupils contracted slightly, as if a certain chord in his heart had been touched.

He suddenly stood up, flicked his dragon robe, and said with a hint of resentment, "The sage has returned?"
"Hmph, I finally managed to stabilize the situation in the Three Realms, and now that they've returned, am I going to become nothing more than a figurehead again?"

The Queen Mother sighed softly and advised, "Why should Your Majesty be angry?"
After the Investiture of the Gods, the sages were banished to chaos by the Dao Ancestor and were unable to intervene in the Three Realms for many years.

Their return must be because the Dao Ancestor has a task for them.

Once the mission is completed, given the nature of the Dao Ancestor, he will likely banish them back to chaos.

Why doesn't Your Majesty observe the situation calmly?

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's eyes flashed, as if recalling a distant past.

He slowly sat down, his voice low and deep: "You're right."

Before the Investiture of the Gods, I was merely a page under the Dao Ancestor, a title that did not live up to my name; after the Investiture of the Gods, I finally came to rule the Three Realms, only to be hampered by the disciples of the Sage.

Now that they've returned, humph, I'll see what the Dao Ancestor is plotting this time.

He paused, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes: "So be it, even though a sage is powerful, he is ultimately subject to the constraints of the Dao Ancestor."

"I only need to sit back and wait patiently for the right opportunity."

The Queen Mother's benevolent body nodded slightly, then vanished in a radiant light.

The Jade Emperor sat alone on his throne, his gaze deep, as if he were plotting something.

Inside the Yue Lao Palace, Jiang Wang leaned back in a mahogany chair, idly playing with a red thread in his hand.

He wore a blue robe, had clear and bright features, but a cynical smile played on his lips.

Ever since he was punished by the Jade Emperor to guard the Matchmaker's Palace, he has been spending his days with the red thread and the Book of Fate, and he has long been fed up with it.

Suddenly, a clear voice came from outside the hall: "Immortal Jiang Wang, are you here?"
The Moon Goddess Chang'e has an urgent matter to ask of you!

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow, got up and walked to the palace gate. There he saw a jade rabbit spirit standing outside the gate, its fur was snow-white and its eyes were full of anxiety.

He frowned and asked, "Chang'e?"
What does she want with me?

The Jade Rabbit Spirit cried out urgently, "Immortal Master!"
Something terrible is happening!

The Styx Ancestor heard about the fairy from somewhere and actually declared that he wanted to marry her!

The fairy is currently trapped in the Moon Palace and has specially sent me to seek the immortal's help!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's eyes narrowed slightly, but he sneered inwardly: "Ancestor Styx?"

That old fellow is holed up in the Netherworld Blood Sea, how dare he come to the Heavenly Court to cause trouble?
Could it be that someone deliberately spread rumors to lure me out?

He initially wanted to refuse outright, but then he thought that ignoring it might arouse suspicion.

He stroked his chin and said lazily, "Fine, I'll go see what this is all about."

Having said that, he made a hand seal, and the somersault cloud soared into the sky, carrying him straight to the South Heavenly Gate.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit followed closely behind, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate, a fierce wind howled. As soon as Jiang Wang landed on the cloud, he saw the Jade Rabbit Spirit standing to the side, holding a green bamboo branch in her hand, which emitted a faint light.

His heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong: "This aura... the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo?!"

Before he could react, the Jade Rabbit Spirit waved its bamboo branch, causing the void to suddenly distort, and an invisible light curtain instantly enveloped Jiang Wang.

He felt the world around him change, and before his eyes was a chaotic mess. All around him was endless golden light, as if millions of Buddhas were chanting and the sound of chanting was pressing down on his mind.

"The Boundless Sumeru Formation!"

Jiang Wang gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping towards the outside of the formation.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit's figure flickered and transformed into an old Taoist priest with white hair, a youthful face, and a warm smile—it was none other than the Bodhi Patriarch.

Bodhi stood with his hands behind his back and said loudly, "Jiang Wang, you are quite clever, but unfortunately you still fell for my trick."

"If you enter this formation today, even a saint himself could not save you!"

Jiang Wang snorted coldly, suppressing the shock in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Old Bodhi, you went to great lengths to trick me into coming here, what exactly do you want?"
Could it be that the Western religion dislikes me and wants to take this opportunity to get rid of me?

Bodhi laughed, but his eyes were full of coldness: "Jiang Wang, you possess extraordinary skills and act eccentrically, which has already attracted the attention of the Three Realms."

Trapping you today is merely acting on behalf of Heaven.

"Take care of yourself, don't struggle, lest you suffer more."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's heart sank.

He tried to circulate his magic power, but found that the spiritual energy around him was suppressed by the formation, as if he were trapped in a quagmire.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Acting on behalf of Heaven?"
Hmph, I'm afraid your Western religion is afraid I'll ruin your grand plan!

Tell me, who exactly ordered you to do this?
Zhunti?

"Guide?"

Bodhi's expression remained unchanged; he simply said, "You don't need to ask any more questions."

Entering this formation will be your downfall.

This humble Taoist priest advises you to accept your death peacefully and not to make a futile struggle.

Just then, a vast expanse of purple aura suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, stretching for tens of thousands of miles, like an inverted Milky Way, its power overwhelming. (End of Chapter)